To determine if pear cultivars, other than Forelle can be successfully cold stored using the FEMA model by harvesting fruit at a more advanced maturity and then retarding ripening through the use of SmartFreshSM

To determine if pear cultivars, other than Forelle can be successfully cold stored using the FEMA model by harvesting fruit at a more advanced maturity and then retarding ripening through the use of SmartFresh^SM.

Williams’ Bon Chretien (2014 and 2015), Abate Fetel (2014 – 2016) and Cheeky (2016) pears were harvested at optimum followed by two additional harvests within 2 weeks after release. Pears were subjected to a 600 ppb SmartFresh^SM application within 7 days after harvest and stored for 6, 8 and 12 weeks. After storage pears were subjected to a 7 day shelf life at 20°C. Evaluations were conducted after cold storage and at the end of shelf life

2014

Ripening of Williams’ Bon Chretien (WBC) and Abate Fetel pears was successfully retarded by the application of SmartFresh^SM. Pears subjected to SmartFresh^SM exhibited greener fruit, decreased incidence of especially senescent breakdown in WBC pears, and lower internal ethylene levels than untreated control fruit.

2015

Flesh firmness of Williams’ Bon Chretien pears dropped from 9.0 kg to 7.4 kg between Harvest 1 and 4. Fruit of the first three harvests treated with SmartFresh^SM did not ripen below 6.9 kg after shelf life, regardless of storage time. Only fruit harvested three weeks after optimum (Harvest 4) stored for 8 weeks or longer ripened below 4.0 kg during shelf life. However, these fruit exhibited much higher colour loss.

Firmness’ of Abate Fetel pears (two populations) varied between different harvests. Regardless of harvest time and storage time, fruit treated with SmartFresh^SM did not ripen to an acceptable firmness below 4.0 kg during shelf life.

2016

Abate Fetel pears advanced in harvest maturity with each progressive harvest. TSS levels however, did not increase as expected. Consumers preferred untreated control fruit from Harvests 1 and 2 according to post-storage taste evaluations. Untreated control fruit for these two harvests were most likely riper, fitting in with the general idea of a soft and juicy pear. Consumers preferred SmartFresh^SM treated fruit to untreated fruit from Harvest 3. It is most likely that the untreated fruit were overripe.

Cheeky pears advanced in harvest maturity with each progressive harvest. TSS levels however, did not increase. No trend occurred regarding taste between different harvests or between different storage times.

Williams’ Bon Chretien pears should only be subjected to a FEMA type programme if it is harvested at an advanced maturity (firmness of 7.4 kg). This firmness was only attained 3 weeks after commercial harvest which could be a risk in terms of fruit drop and green skin colour loss.

Abate Fetel pears did not adhere to the FEMA programme in terms of crisp and sweet. Fruit lacked sweetness and were not as juicy. It is therefore not recommended to subject Abate Fetel pears to a FEMA type programme.

Cheeky pears were not crisp enough. Fruit subjected to SmartFresh^SM tended to be rubbery and generally more consumers preferred untreated fruit regarding taste. It is therefore not recommended to subject Cheeky fruit to a FEMA type of program without additional research.