S17 - Session O2 - Unraveling the true impact of orchard factors on peach fruit quality development using accurate, rapid and high-throughput non-destructive sensors.

Authors: Ioannis Minas *, Brendon Anthony, David Sterle, Jeff Pieper, Jake Pott

Improvement of peach fruit quality is impossible postharvest. Hence, optimum peach quality at harvest and during postharvest and subsequent, consumer satisfaction, is achievable through understanding the influence of preharvest and orchard factors. Growing environment, crop load management, fruit position in the canopy, cultivar and rootstock and are important preharvest factors to balance yield, quality, and maturation in peach. However, few studies have addressed how preharvest factors impact quality and metabolism on fruit of equal maturity. Accurate multivariate visible (Vis)/near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) prediction models to non-destructively assess peach internal quality (dry matter content, DMC; soluble solids concentration, SSC) and maturity (index of absorbance difference, I AD ) with a single scan were used to determine the true impact of various preharvest factors on peach internal quality. Large-scale field evaluation showed that heavier crop loads reduced peach quality and delayed maturity, upper canopy position advanced both, while extensive tree vigor as affected by cultivar or rootstock might be detrimental for peach internal quality. Overall, this talk will help you understand how to use novel, rapid and high-throughput methods for assessing fruit quality and make informed decisions in orchard factors management to improve peach fruit quality.