Postharvest Performance of ʻMinneiskaʼ Apple, A Progeny of ʻHoneycrispʼ

Abstract

‘Minneiska’, a cross between ‘Honeycrisp’ and ‘Minnewashta’ (Zestar!®), was the first commercialized progeny of the ‘Honeycrisp’ apple. The effects of harvest date and storage under air for 3 and 6 months, and controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions for 4 and 8 months, at 0 °C, on ‘Minneiska’ fruit firmness were tested at multiple locations in Michigan, Minnesota, and New York over two years. Harvest date affected flesh firmness, starch pattern index, soluble solids concentration, internal ethylene concentration, and percentage of red blush at harvest. Harvest date affected all quality attributes of fruit after air and CA storage, except for flesh firmness 7 d after removal from air storage. Fruit stored under CA for 8 months developed CO ₂injury and senescent breakdown. Fruit treated with 1-methylcyclopropane retained firmness during 6 months of storage. All attributes varied by year and orchard. Harvest date did not affect sensory panelists’ liking of Minnesota-grown fruit. Although stored fruit developed decay and shriveling, no or low incidences of soft scald and soggy breakdown were observed. In general, ‘Minneiska’ fruit maintained good firmness and soluble solids concentration for up to 3 months when stored in air and for 4 months in CA conditions of 1.5-2.5% O ₂and 1.5-2.5% CO ₂.