THE INFLUENCE OF MINERAL NUTRITION ON THE QUALITY AND STORAGE PERFORMANCE OF POME FRUITS GROWN IN NORTH AMERICA

Fruit quality can be retained during storage only as long as the ageing processes within the fruit are kept in check. Storage systems that can markedly delay ageing of apples, and to a lesser extent pears, by environmental modification are highly developed in North America, yet substantial losses of quality often occur during storage. It is now recognized that the mineral nutrient status of the fruit is a significant factor in these losses.

In this paper we shall attempt to review the current knowledge of the effects of mineral nutrients on quality of North American apples and pears, describe the most common current methods of maintaining adequate nutrient levels in the fruit, and speculate on the mechanisms by which these elements may be influencing the maintenance of quality in the fruit.