EFFECT OF HARVEST DATE ON POSTHARVEST QUALITY OF 'KORDIA' SWEET CHERRY DURING MAP STORAGE

In this study, changes in the quality of ‘Kordia’ sweet cherry fruit harvested at different dates and stored in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were investigated. Fruits were picked at three different dates (P-1: early; P-2: optimum; P-3: late) at intervals of 5 d. Harvested fruit were stored at 0°C under MAP (Life Pack^® bag for cherry) for 6 weeks. During storage, fruit quality analyses were made at intervals of 2 weeks. Weight loss of early- and late-picked fruit was greater than that of fruit from the optimum harvest date. The respiration rate was higher in the early- and late-picked fruit than those from the optimum harvest date. The respiration rate increased during storage for harvest dates. The total soluble solids decreased as harvest date progressed and with increasing storage time. The L* and a* values of the fruit decreased as harvest date progressed and with increasing storage time.