Thesis (MScFoodSc) Stellenbosch University, 2014 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: We aimed to determine how canopy position influences fruit quality and consumer preference for the eating quality and appearance of ‘Forelle’, ‘Bon Chrétien’ and ‘Bon Rouge’ pears. Our hypothesis was that consumer preference would be higher for the appearance and eating quality of outer canopy fruit. Our first trial investigated the effect of canopy position and cold storage duration on quality attributes and consumer preference for ‘Forelle’ pears. Mealiness was much more prevalent in outer canopy fruit in 2012 and after 9 and 12 weeks cold storage in 2011. In 2011, consumers preferred the eating quality of inner canopy pears that had been subjected to 12 and 16 weeks of cold storage while inner canopy pears were generally preferred in 2012. This study provides support for the mandatory 12 weeks cold storage of ‘Forelle’ pears. Our second trial investigated the effect of canopy position and harvest maturity within the commercial picking window on the quality attributes and consumer preferences for ‘Forelle’ pears. Inner canopy pears of harvest 1 (23 February) and harvest 2 (27 February) were significantly preferred in terms of eating quality. The general dislike for harvest 3 (13 March) pears and outer canopy fruit seemed to relate to an incidence of mealiness. Our results suggest that harvesting ‘Forelle’ pears at a firmness ≈6.2 kg will ensure that both inner and outer canopy pears have acceptable eating quality. In our third trial, fruit were harvested at commercial firmness from two orchards in each of Elgin and Ceres to assess the effect of orchard site on quality attributes of ‘Forelle’ pears. Total soluble solids (TSS) were higher in Elgin while flavour attributes were more pronounced in Ceres. In both areas, outer canopy pears were higher in TSS and lower in titratable acidity (TA) but canopy position had no effect on sweet and sour taste. Mealiness incidence was high in outer canopy fruit from Elgin, as well as in one Ceres orchard. Further research over consecutive seasons is needed to determine the reasons for orchard differences in mealiness incidence. Our fourth trial investigated the effect of canopy position on quality attributes and consumer preference for ‘Bon Chrétien’ and ‘Bon Rouge’ pears. Despite a higher TSS:TA ratio in outer canopy ‘Bon Rouge’ pears and a higher TSS and dry matter concentration in outer canopy ‘Bon Chrétien’ pears, canopy position did not affect sensory eating quality attributes. Seen overall, results indicate that canopy position has a minor effect on consumer preference for ‘Bon Chrétien’ and ‘Bon Rouge’ eating quality. No significant differences in colour and consumer preference for appearance were found between outer and inner canopy ‘Bon Chrétien’ pears. Consumers slightly preferred the redder outer canopy ‘Bon Rouge’ pears over the less red inner canopy fruit. Although consumers preferred the red blush colour of outer canopy ‘Forelle’ pears, inner canopy pears also received high scores. Inner canopy ‘Forelle’ pears should not be viewed as inferior to outer canopy fruit with regard to both eating quality and appearance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Ons het gepoog om die effek van boomposisie op vrugkwaliteit en verbruikersvoorkeur vir die eetkwaliteit en voorkoms van ‘Forelle’, ‘Bon Chrétien’ en ‘Bon Rouge’ pere te ondersoek. Ons hipotese was dat verbruikersvoorkeur hoër sou wees vir die voorkoms en eetkwaliteit van pere van die buitekant van die boom se blaredak. Ons eerste proef se doelstelling was om die effek van boomposisie en koelopberging op die kwaliteitseienskappe en verbruikersvoorkeur vir ‘Forelle’ pere te bepaal. Melerigheid was beduidend meer aanwesig in buitevrugte in 2012 asook na 9 en 12 weke koelopberging in 2011. Verbruikersvoorkeur vir eetkwaliteit was die hoogste vir binnevrugte na 12 en 16 weke koelopberging in 2011 terwyl binnevrugte in die algemeen voorkeur geniet het in 2012. Hierdie studie steun die bevindinge van vorige studies dat ‘Forelle’ pere vir ten minste 12 weke koelopgeberg moet word. Die doel van ons tweede proef was om te bepaal of ‘Forelle’ pere wat by verskillende ryphede binne die kommersiële oesperiode geoes is, verskille toon in kwaliteitseienskappe en of hierdie verskille, indien enige, verband hou met verbruikersvoorkeur vir eetkwaliteit. Die eetkwaliteit van binnevrugte van oes 1 (23 Februarie) en oes 2 (27 Februarie) is verkies bo buitevrugte. Die algemene afkeur vir oes 3 (13 Maart) en buitevrugte kan moontlik toegeskryf word aan die hoë voorkoms van melerigheid. Ons resultate dui aan dat beide binne- en buitevrugte aanvaarbare eetkwaliteit behoort te hê indien ‘Forelle’ pere by ‘n fermheid van ≈6.2 kg geoes word. Vir ons derde proef is ‘Forelle’ pere geoes by kommersiële fermheid (≈6.4 kg) vanaf twee boorde in elk van Elgin en Ceres. Totale opgeloste vastestowwe (TOV) was hoër in Elgin pere terwyl geur-eienskappe meer prominent was in Ceres pere. In beide areas het buitevrugte hoër TSS en laer titreerbare sure (TS) gehad, maar boomposisie het egter geen effek op soet en suur smaak gehad nie. Die voorkoms van melerigheid was hoog in buitevrugte van die Elgin boorde, sowel as in een van die Ceres boorde. Verdere navorsing oor opeenvolgende seisoene word benodig om redes vir die verskille in die voorkoms van melerigheid tussen boorde te ondersoek. Die doelstelling van ons vierde proef was om die effek van boomposisie op die kwaliteitseienskappe en verbruikersvoorkeur vir ‘Bon Chrétien’ en ‘Bon Rouge’ pere te ondersoek. Ondanks ‘n hoër TOV:TS ratio in ‘Bon Rouge’ buitevrugte en ‘n hoër TOV en droë massa konsentrasie in ‘Bon Chrétien’ buitevrugte, het boomposisie ‘n minimale impak gehad op sensoriese eetkwaliteitseinskappe en verbruikervoorkeur vir die pere. Boomposisie het geen effek op die kleur en verbruikersvoorkeur vir die voorkoms van ‘Bon Chrétien’ pere gehad nie. Verbruikers het ‘n effense hoër voorkeur getoon vir die rooier ‘Bon Rouge’ buitevrugte. Alhoewel verbruikers die aantreklike rooi bloskleur van ‘Forelle’ buitevrugte verkies het, het die groen tot geel binnevrugte ook hoë voorkeurpunte behaal. Rakende voorkoms en eetkwaliteit, is ‘Forelle’ binnevrugte glad nie minderwaardig teenoor buitevrugte nie.

Thesis (MScAgric (Horticulture))--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Climatic differences between production areas or seasons directly affect the rate of fruit maturation and the eating quality following storage and ripening. South African ‘Forelle’ pears are harvested at an optimum firmness of 6.4 kg and have mandatory cold storage duration of 12 weeks at -0.5°C to ensure even ripening. The firmness variable alone, however, is not a good indicator of ripening potential. Hence, various maturity variables (ethylene production, ground colour, firmness, total soluble solids (TSS) titratable acidity (TA), and starch breakdown) and their rates of change were evaluated to identify consistent maturity indices that can be reliably used in a prediction model to determine optimum harvest maturity (Chapter 2). This was then related to the ripening potential (Chapter 3) and eating quality (Chapter 4), defined by optimum ‘edible firmness’ (3.5 kg), presence or absence of astringency or mealiness. Fruit were harvested from three main producing areas: Warm Bokkeveld (WBV), Elgin and Koue Bokkeveld (KBV). Harvesting was done biweekly on five harvest dates over three successive seasons (2007-2009). At harvest, 20 of 240 fruit per block were used to determine maturity using all the mentioned parameters in order to understand their changes and behaviour pre-harvest. The remaining 220 fruit were stored at -0.5°C for three storage durations followed by ripening at 15°C. At harvest, the 2007 season’s fruit were more advanced in ground colour and were significantly softer (6.7 kg) than the 2008 (7.0 kg) and 2009 (7.1 kg) seasons. Firmness, ground colour, TSS and TA, all displayed a linear relationship with days after full bloom. For the firmness and ground colour, more than 90% and 73%, respectively, was explained by the variation in the linear model, while for the TSS and TA less than 70% could be accounted for by the model. Fruit harvested before commercial harvest (pre-optimum) in 2007 and 2009 failed to ripen to an ‘edible firmness’ when stored for eight weeks at -0.5oC plus 11 days at 15oC. In 2008, eight weeks storage was sufficient to induce ripening changes in pre-optimum harvested fruit. The development of ripening potential in the 2008 earlier harvested fruit, corresponded with a higher rate of change (3.15 µL.kg-1.h-1.day-1) in ethylene production at 15oC compared to the 2007 (1.98 µL.kg-1.h-1.day-1) and 2009 (1.87 µL.kg-1.h-1.day-1) seasons. The 2007 season fruit experienced maximum incidence of astringency (36.7%) on the first harvested fruit. In all three seasons, fruit harvested at commercial harvest time and later (optimum and post-optimum), required an eight week storage period to induce ripening. However, the eight weeks storage period developed highest mealiness. More than 40% of the last harvested fruit were mealy after eight weeks at -0.5°C plus seven days at 15°C. Mealiness significantly reduced with prolonged storage at -0.5°C. Fruit from the WBV and Elgin, warmer areas than the KBV, were more prone to mealiness. In conclusion, firmness was the most consistent variable at harvest and could be used in conjunction with ground colour to determine ‘Forelle’ harvest maturity. Furthermore, the study does not support shortening the current mandatory 12 weeks period at -0.5°C due to the higher incidence of astringency and mealiness. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Klimaats verskille tussen produksie areas of seisoene affekteer die tempo van vrugrypwording en eetkwaliteit na opberging en rypwording direk. Suid-Afrikaanse ‘Forelle’ word ge-oes by ‘n optimum fermheid van 6.4 kg en het ‘n verpligte opbergingstydperk van 12 weke by -0.5°C om egalige rypwording te verseker. Die veranderlike ‘fermheid’ is egter nie ‘n goeie aanduiding van die rypheidspotensiaal op sy eie nie. Dus is verskeie rypheidsparameters (etileen produksie, agtergrond kleur, fermheid, total oplosbare vaste stowwe (TOVS), titreerbare suur (TS) en stysel afbraak) en die tempo van verandering ge-evalueer om konstante rypheidsverwysings te identifiseer wat met vertroue in ‘n voorspellingsmodel gebruik kan word om optimum oes rypheid te kan bepaal (Hoofstuk 2). Dit is dan in verband gebring met die rypwordingspotensiaal (Hoofstuk 3) en eetgehalte (Hoofstuk 4), wat gedefiniëer is deur “eetbare fermheid” (3.5 kg), frankheid en melerigheid. Vrugte is ge-oes uit drie, hoof verbouingsareas: Warm Bokkeveld (WBV), Elgin en Koue Bokkeveld (KBV). By oes is 20 van die 240 vrugte per blok gebruik om die vrug rypheid te bepaal, deur al die bogenoemde parameters te gebruik, om die verandering en reaksie voor oes te begryp. Die oorblywende 220 vrugte is opgeberg by -0.5°C vir drie opbergingstye, gevolg deur rypmaking by 15°C. By oes was die vrugte van die 2007 seisoen verder gevorderd in agtergrond kleur en betekenisvol sagter (6.7 kg) as die van 2008 (7 kg) en 2009 (7.1 kg). Fermheid, agtergrond kleur, TOVS en TS het almal ‘n lineêre verband getoon met dae na volblom. In geval van fermheid en agtergrond kleur, is meer as onderskeidelik 90% en 73% verklaar deur die variasie in die lineêre model, terwyl in geval van die TOVS en TS, minder as 70% deur die model verklaar kon word. Vrugte wat voor die kommersiële oes (pre-optimum) ge-oes is in 2007 en 2009, het nie daarin geslaag om ryp te word tot by ‘eetbare fermheid’ na ag weke by -0.5°C en 11 dae by 15°C nie. Daarteenoor kon vrugte wat pre-optimum ge-oes is in 2008, wel geïnduseer word om ryp te word met ag weke opbeging. Die ontwikkeling van die rypwordingspotensiaal van vrugte wat vroeër ge-oes is, stem ooreen met die hoër tempo van verandering (3.15 µL.kg-1.h-1.dag-1) in etileen produksie by 15°C in vergelyking met seisoene 2007 (1.98 µL.kg-1.h-1.dag-1) en 2009(1.87 µL.kg-1.h-1.dag-1). Die 2007 seisoen vrugte het die maksimum voorkoms van frankheid (36.7%) getoon vir vrugte van die eerste oes datum. In al drie seisoene waar vrugte wat by kommersiële oes of later (optimum en post optimum) ge-oes is, was ‘n ag weke periode van opgeberging voldoende om rypwording te inisiëer, alhoewel die ag weke opberging ook gelei tot die hoogste voorkoms van melerigheid. Meer as 40% van die laat ge-oeste vrugte was melering na ag weke opberging by -0.5°C en sewe dae by 15°C. Melerigheid is betekenisvol verlaag met ‘n verlengde opbergingsperiode by -0.5°C. Vrugte vanaf die WBV en Elgin, warmer areas as die KBV, was meer onderhewig aan melerigheid. Opsommend was fermheid die reëlmatigste veranderlike by oes en kan tesame met agtergrondkleur, gebruik word om vrugrypheid van ‘Forelle’ te bepaal. Verder het die studie nie ‘n verkorting van die huidige, verpligte 12 week opberingsperiode by -0.5°C gesteun nie, weens die hoë voorkoms van frankheid en melerigheid.