Colour changes in Fuji apples were monitored several days after full blooming (DAFB). Fruits were harvested at this commercial maturity (139 DAFB), 132, 146 and 153 DAFB. A new method was developed to determine the average colour of the apples by measuring the reflection spectra around the fruit to obtain a spectra weighted by the red and green areas. According to the evolution of the reflectance spectra during maturity, the proportion of chlorophyll decreased with regard to other pigments but it did not disappear. The colour obtained of those average spectra allowed a good classification of the apples according to ripeness. Values of the a* colour coordinate were well correlated to the visual evaluation of the colour assessed by a sensory trained panel, which could be used as a maturation index to optimize the marketing.
Argenta L.C. , Fan X. and Mattheis J.P. (2002). Responses of ‘Fuji’ apples to short and long duration exposure to elevated CO2 concentration . Postharvest Biology and Technology24: 13-24 .
2.
Benavides A. , Recasens I. , Casero T. , Soria Y. and Puy J. (2002). Multivariate analysis of quality and mineral parameters on Golden Smoothee apples treated before harvest with calcium and stored in controlled atmosphere . Food Science and Technology International8(3): 139-146 .
3.
Blankenship S.M. , Parker M. and Unrath C.R. (1997). Use of maturity indices for predicting poststorage firmness of ‘Fuji’ apples . HortScience32(5): 909-910 .
4.
Bru M. (1995). Vent du sud sur la pomme. Fruits et Légumes136: 27-31.
5.
Bru M. (1996). Variétalment votre. Fruits et Légumes145: 24-27.
Costell E., Damasio M.H., Izquierdo L. and Durán L. (1989). Selección de un equipo de catadores para el análisis descriptivo de la textura no oral de geles hidrocoloides. Revista Agroquímica de Tecnología de Alimentos29: 375-383.
8.
DeJager A. and Roelofs F. (1996). Prediction of optimum harvest date of Jonagold. In: DeJager A. , Johnson D. and Hohn E. (eds), Determination and Prediction of Optimum Harvest Date of Apples and PearsLuxembourg: European Commission COST 94 , pp. 21-31.
9.
Drake S.R. and Elfving D.C. (1999). Quality of ‘Fuji’ apples after regular and controlled atmosphere storage . Fruit Varieties Journal53(3): 193-198 .
10.
Dray D. (1992). Consumer preferences for apples don’t change . Fruitwise (Dept. Agric. N.S.W.)10: 9-11 .
11.
Duncan D.B. (1951). A significance test for differences between ranked treatments in an analysis of variance . Varieties Journal Science2: 171-189 .
12.
Eccher Zerbini P. , Pianezzola A. and Grassi M. (1999). Poststorage sensory profiles of fruit of five apple cultivars harvested at different maturity stages . Journal of Food Quality22: 1-17 .
13.
Echevarría G. , Graell J. and López M.L. (2002). Effect of harvest date and storage conditions on quality and aroma production of ‘Fuji’ apples . Food Science and Technology International8(6): 351-360 .
14.
Gaffney J.J. (1970). Photoelectric colour sorting of vine-ripened tomatoes. Marketing Research Rep. No. 868. Washington, DC: US Department of Agriculture .
15.
Giacinti M.A. (2002). Visión mundial del consumo de manzana en fresco . Fruticultura Profesional129: 47-59 .
16.
Iglesias I. , Dalman R. , Bonany I. and Carbó J. (1997). Comportamiento de diferentes cultivares de los grupos Fuji y Braeburn en Lleida y Girona (Cataluña-España) . Fruticultura Profesional89: 6-20 .
17.
ISO. International Organization for Standardization (1988). Sensory Analysis - General Guidance for the Design of Test Rooms. ISO 8589. Geneve: ISO .
18.
Jobling J. , McGlasson W.B. , Miller P. and Hourigan J. (1993). Harvest maturity and quality of new apple cultivars . Acta Horticulturae343: 53-60 .
19.
Jobling J. and McGlasson W.B. (1995). A comparison of ethylene production, maturity and controlled atmosphere storage life of Gala, Fuji, and Lady Williams apples (Malus domestica Borkh.) . Postharvest Biology and Technology6: 209-218 .
20.
Kupferman E. (1992). Maturity and storage of apple varieties new to Washington State . Tree Fruit Postharvest Journal3(1): 9-16 .
21.
Kupferman E. (1994a). Maturity and storage of Gala, Fuji, and Braeburn apples . Tree Fruit Postharvest Journal5(3): 10-15 .
22.
Kupferman E. (1994b). Packing Fuji apples in Washington State . Tree Fruit Postharvest Journal5(2): 23-25 .
23.
Lau O.L , Meheriuk M. and Olsen K.L. (1983). Effects of ‘rapid CA’, high CO2 and CaCl2 treatments on storage behaviour of ‘Golden Delicious’ apples . Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science108: 230-233 .
24.
Marquina P.L. , Burgos J. and Oria R. (2001). Application of a compression-relaxation test for the characterization of Burlart sweet cherry . Journal of Texture Studies32: 15-30 .
25.
Masseron A. (1997). Fuji une nouvelle génération de mutants. Infos-Ctifl128: 28-30.
26.
AOAC (1990). Official Methods of AOAC. Arlington, US: AOAC .
27.
Plotto A. , Azarenko A.N. , Mattheis J.P. and McDaniel M.R. (1995). ‘Gala’, ‘Braeburn’, and ‘Fuji’ apples: maturity indices and quality after storage . Fruit Varieties Journal49: 133-142 .
28.
Powers J.J. (1984). Using general statistical programs to evaluate sensory data . Food Technology6: 74-84 .
29.
Salveit M.E. and Hale S.A. (1982). Determining the Maturity of North Carolina Apples. North Carolina Ext. Serv. Raleigh no. AG-282.
30.
SPSS (2002). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows Users. Guide Release 11, Chicago IL., USA: SPSS Inc.
31.
Trillot M. , Masseron A. and Tronel C. (1993). Pomme: les variétés. Paris: Ctift , pp. 131-145.
32.
Warner G. (1998). Gala and Fuji stored longer as volumes increase . Good Fruit GrowerMay 1: 15-20 .
33.
Warrington I.J. , Fulton T.A. , Halligan E.A. and de Silva H.N. (1999). Apple fruit growth and maturity are affected by early season temperatures . Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science124(5): 468-477 .
34.
Watkins C.B. , Brookfield P.L. and Harker F.R. (1993). Development indices for the Fuji apple cultivar in relation to watercore incidence . Acta Horticulturae326: 267-272 .
35.
Weichmann J. (1986). The effect of controlled atmosphere storage on the sensory and nutritional quality of fruits and vegetables . Horticulturae Reviews8: 101-127 .
36.
Wyszecki G. and Stiles W.S. (1987). Color science. In: Color Science, 3rd edn, New York: Wiley and Sons .
