Disorder quantification

Science programme: Postharvest science

Physiological disorders develop during storage of fruit and may make the fruit unacceptable to the consumers, thereby decreasing its commercial value.

Some disorders are readily visible since they are on the skin, while others occur inside the fruit. Internal disorders include water-soaking or browning of tissues, and/or the development of cavities in the fruit. Some disorders may also affect fruit taste.

The goal of our researchers is to understand the developmental pathways of disorders and to develop protocols alleviating them.

We use two approaches:

• At the biochemical and physiological level, understanding the mechanisms involved in disorder development
• Quantifying the effect of various preharvest and postharvest handling and storage factors on the development of the disorder.

Many of the fruit disorders we deal with are expressed during storage rather than at harvest. We look at what makes the fruit susceptible prior to harvest and if the fruit is susceptible, how it can be managed after harvest.

Current projects are examining:

• Russeting in Cox apples
• Prediction of physiological pitting in kiwifruit
• Braeburn browning disorder in Braeburn apple
• Peteca in citrus
• Low oxygen injury in apples, avocado and kiwifruit.

We also provide:

• Advisory services
• Research services.