Evaluating Maturity Index I AD for Storability Potential in Mid-Season and Late-Season Apple Cultivars in the Light of Climate Change

Joakim Sjöstrand (), Ibrahim Tahir, Henrik Stridh and Marie E. Olsson
Additional contact information
Joakim Sjöstrand: Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Alnarp, Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden
Ibrahim Tahir: Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Alnarp, Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden
Henrik Stridh: Äppelriket Österlen, Ekonomisk Förening, Åkarpsvägen 4, SE-277 35 Kivik, Sweden
Marie E. Olsson: Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SLU Alnarp, Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: Reducing food losses in apple production is becoming increasingly important, as the effects of climate change constitute a challenge to food production. Improving methods for determining fruit maturity at harvest leading to the longest storability is crucial, thereby facing more unpredictable seasonal weather conditions. In addition, the increasing temperature is affecting common maturity indices differently; thus, present practice may not be valid. In this study, a non-destructive, time-efficient method was used, tentatively indicating maturity. This study was performed during three climate-diverse years, reflecting more irregular climate conditions. Mid- to late-season cultivars ‘Frida’, ‘Ingrid Marie’, ‘Rubinstar’, and ‘Elise’ were harvested at different pre-determined I AD (index of absorbance difference) intervals and stored for five months. Correlations between I AD values at harvest and total losses after storage were found for all cultivars and years, while only a few correlations related to firmness after storage were found. Although a strong effect of year was related to correlations between I AD and different quality parameters, no noticeably general differences could be found between the exceptionally warm year in comparison to the other investigated years. I AD , as a maturity index, thus, seems to be resilient to changing temperatures and can be used as a complementary maturity index.

Keywords: apple ( Malus domestica ); chlorophyll absorbance index (I AD ); late cultivars; storability; fruit losses; firmness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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