• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.486-491
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• 2015

In this study, we evaluated the differences in fruit development and quality indices of fruits subjected to blossom thinning before full bloom in 'Hanareum' and 'Niitaka' pears (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai). We carried out a thinning treatments at 5 days before full bloom, targeting the blossoms at the 1st and 2nd position (T1) or the blossoms at the 6th and 7th position (T2) from the basal part of the flower cluster in both cultivars. Blossom thinning treatments increased the average fruit weight of early-season Asian pear 'Hanareum' up to 10.5% (T1) and 11.0% (T2) at harvest time (110 days after full bloom). The mid-season 'Niitaka' pear showed increased fruit weight of up to 12.6% (T1) and 16.8% (T2) at harvest time (170 days after full bloom). Moreover, these treatments increased the production rate of bigger sized fruits in both cultivars. Removal of blooms also affected fruit quality indices; the bloom-thinned fruits showed higher soluble solids contents (about $1^{\circ}Brix$) and higher skin color redness ($a^*$) especially in 'Niitaka' pears when compared to the non-thinned controls. Overall, the treatments increased the fruit size and weight as well as fruit quality including soluble solids and skin color. Bloom thinning treatment targeting the 6th to 7th blossom from the basal part of the flower cluster may be recommended as the practical thinning method in Asian pear 'Hanareum' and 'Niitaka'.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.378-385
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• 2017

In this study, we evaluated the changes of fruit quality indices during fruit development and ripening in Korean new pear cultivar 'Changjo', developed from a cross between 'Tama' and '81-1-27' ('Danbae' ${\times}$ 'Okusankichi') in 1995 and named in 2009, to determine appropriate harvest time and to enhance the market quality and broaden the cultivation area. The fruits of 'Changjo' pears harvested from 132 days after full bloom (DAFB) to 160 DAFB. Fruit growth and quality indices were monitored at 1 week interval by measuring fruit weight, length, diameter, firmness, and taste related quality indices. The calculated fruit fresh weight increased continuously with fruit development and reached to an average of 594g on Sep. 20 (160 DAFB). The ratio of length to diameter declines as fruit maturation progress, resulting in 0.898 for ripe fruit stage as a round oblate shape. Flesh firmness of 'Changjo' pears showed over 30N until 153 DAFB and then decreased abruptly with fruit ripening, reaching a final level of about 26.44N on 160 DAFB. Starch content of fruit sap was also decreased abruptly after 146 DAFB which decreased almost half of the fruits harvested at 139 DAFB. In parallel with the decrease of flesh firmness, ethanol insoluble solids (EIS) content decreased sharply with fruit ripens, only 50% of EIS was detected on the fruits harvested on 160 DAFB when compared to that of the fruits harvested on 139 DAFB (Aug. 30). The maximum value of soluble solids contents was observed in the fruits harvested on 153 DAFB, resulting in $14.2^{\circ}Brix$. The changes of skin color difference $a^*$ which means loss of green color occurred only after 139 DAFB, coincide with the decrease of SPAD value of the fruit skin. The sugars of the 80% ethanol soluble fraction consisted mainly of fructose, sorbitol, glucose and sucrose, also increased during maturation and ripening. Fructose and sucrose contents were larger than those of glucose and sorbitol in flesh tissues. These results were explained that stored starch is converted to soluble sugars during fruit maturation, mainly in fructose and sucrose increasing the sweetness of this cultivar. Total polyphenols were increased up to middle of fruit maturation (146 DAFB) and then decreased continuously until the end of fruit maturation. Consequently, our results suggested that the commercial harvest time of 'Changjo' pears should not be passed 153 DAFB and late harvest of this cultivar would not good for quality maintenance during shelf-life. As a result of the post-harvest low-temperature acclimation experiment during the short-term transportation period, fruits harvested at 146 DAFB tended to maintain higher firmness after 14 days of simulated marketing at $25^{\circ}C$ compared to fruits harvested at 153 DAFB regardless of temperature set. And, the slower the rate of decrease to the final transport temperature of $5^{\circ}C$, the higher the incidence of internal browning and ethylene production. Therefore, in order to suppress the physiological disorder and to maintain the fruit quality when exporting to Southeast Asia in the 'Chanjo' pears, it is desirable to lower the temperature of the fruits within a short time after harvest and to set the harvest time before 146 days after full bloom.