The 2012 ASHS Annual Conference

‘Honeycrisp’ trees were sprayed with ReTain (aminoethoxyvinylglycine) and Harvista (1-methylcyclopropene; 1-MCP) in an orchard from the Hudson Valley, western New York and Champlain regions of New York.  Drop data and yield of fruit picked to commercial color requirements were recorded over the harvest period.  Harvested fruit were either untreated or treated with SmartFresh (1-MCP) and stored in air or controlled atmosphere (CA).  ReTain and Harvista delayed fruit drop and color development. Ethylene production and aroma volatiles of the fruit was inhibited, as were starch indices and flesh firmness, although not consistently so. Little effect of preharvest treatment on firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC) and acidity after storage was detected. CA stored fruit was superior to air stored fruit, but preharvest treatments sometimes increased risk of carbon dioxide injuries in CA storage.  SmartFresh treated air stored fruit had higher titratable acidity, SSC, and lower greasiness than untreated fruit, and quality characteristics were similar to those of CA stored fruit.