Optimal Harvest Time of Various Apple Cultivars Grown in Northern Mississippi

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the optimal harvest date (OHD) of eight apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) cultivars grown in the unique climate of Northern Mississippi. Fruit were collected randomly from the interior and exterior quadrants of the tree at weekly intervals beginning 30 days after full bloom (DAFB). Maturity indices used to determine OHD were fruit firmness, fresh fruit weight, soluble solids content (SSC), and juice pH. Fruit maturity indices of ‘Earligold’, ‘Jonagold’, ‘Improved Golden’, ‘Scarlet Gala’, ‘Jonafree’, ‘Macspur’, ‘Royal Gala’, and ‘Williams Pride’ were monitored weekly. The OHD was defined as the number of days after full bloom where SSC and fresh fruit weight were at or near maximum. The OHD for ‘Williams Pride’ and ‘Earligold’ was determined to be 93 DAFB and these cultivars were identified as early cultivars. ‘Scarlet Gala’, ‘Royal Gala’ and ‘Jonafree’ were considered medium harvest date cultivars with OHD of 102, 105 and 108 DAFB, respectively. The OHD for ‘Jonagold’ and ‘Improved Golden’, and ‘Macspur’ was 128 DAFB and these cultivars were identified as late harvest cultivars. For all cultivars, the time lapsed from full bloom to maturity was at least seven days less than in other parts of the U.S. Early monitoring of apple maturity and a combination of maturity indices is recommended to determine maturity for fresh fruit consumption in Mississippi.