Prediction of seasonal variation in internal quality in pome fruit prior to harvest

The investigation during the past season was aimed at confirming the accuracy of the models which were developed for the prediction of the rate of change of the different maturity indices (TSS, Starch & Firmness) for apple and pear cultivars in the Elgin/Vyeboom and Ceres/Wolseley areas. These models were developed by relating blossom dates, weather conditions and soil types to the rate of change of the different maturity indices. The existing data for the two areas, which was collected since 1983, was used for the development of the prediction models.