Apples

The remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped much rain throughout the region. This is a reminder that any fungicides that had been applied need to be reapplied, especially since we are in the harvest season. Fruits are still susceptible to fruit rots and sooty blotch and flyspeck. In addition, Marssonina blotch is another disease that favors wet conditions. Marssonina blotch can defoliate trees quickly and, if pressure is high, potentially cause fruit issues in storage. It is important that growers remain vigilant and keep fruit covered with fungicides during the harvest period. This is especially important for later harvested varieties and varieties intended to be kept in long term storage.

What is Controlled Atmosphere and why do we use it? To maintain stored fruit quality after harvest, it is essential to understand and control key factors such as genetic background (cultivars/rootstock used), orchard management practices, environmental conditions such as orchard history, and fruit maturity at harvest and postharvest storage conditions. Harvest maturity and postharvest storage conditions are specific for most apple cultivars, so adequate preparation must be taken for each individual cultivar grown under their specific environmental conditions.

Why is texture important? Texture is a key fruit quality component when considering consumer acceptability. Fruit texture is usually perceived first with the sense of touch and then by the sensation experienced when eating it. Most consumers want a crisp, crunchy apple and a peach that is juicy and has a melting texture, meaning it yields to chewing without being mushy. Meeting these texture standards can increase fruit marketability.

Why do we need cold storage? Fruits such as apples and peaches are highly perishable and thus have a limited market life potential. Cold storage is an efficient way to maintain fruit quality, mitigate losses and maximize harvest potential. At ambient temperatures, fruit quality characteristics are rapidly changing, decreasing storability. Specifically, long-term ambient storage conditions lead to changes in color, texture, flavor (soluble solids, acidity, aroma), and nutritional value. Therefore, cold storage is a key solution to slow down these changes and thus maintain quality for longer periods of time.

Information on hard cider and ice wine production.

Sample Collection & Preparation for Perennial Fruit Crops

About

Fungicide Resistance Management Guidelines for Apple Scab, Powdery Mildew, Brown Rot, and Peach Scab Control in the Mid-Atlantic United States, by Alan R. Biggs, West Virginia University and Kari Peter, Penn State University.

Based on laboratory bioassay results and field screening trials as of February 7, 2011. By Kent Smith, USDA-ARS