Application of succinic acid,2,2-dimethylhydrazide (SADH) to peaches at the onset of pit hardening advanced maturity and caused more rapid softening during ripening on the tree.
Flesh color at a given firmness was improved by SADH over a wide maturity range. The color difference was maintained after processing; canned halves from SADH trees had a higher USDA color grade than control fruit of comparable firmness.
Uniformity of firmness and flesh color among fruit within trees varied with crop maturity, but uniformity was not substantially affected by SADH. However, enhancement of flesh color by SADH improved the quality of fruit obtained by once-over harvest and tended to concentrate the grade distribution of canned halves in USDA color grades A and B.
‘Elberta’ peach trees were given a once-over harvest to determine uniformity of fruit maturity within trees. Harvests were made at each of 3 dates to detect changes in uniformity as the crop matured. Flesh color (Hunter “a” value) and Magness-Taylor firmness were used as maturity indices for each individual fruit. Standard deviations reflecting flesh color and firmness variances among fruit on the same tree were good objective measures of uniformity of maturity. Fruit firmness and flesh color both became less uniform as the fruit matured to a certain stage, beyond which uniformity increased.
The color of the cheek and USDA color score of processed fruit of peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. cv. Redskin) were significantly higher when succinic acid-2,2-dimethyl-hydrazide (SADH) was used alone or in combination with (2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid (ethephon). Both compounds and the combination strikingly reduced pit cavity discoloration.
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