Thesis (M. Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / The South African Avocado Industry is continuously expanding with ‘Hass’ cultivar occupying the largest land and therefore, the most exported cultivar. Expansion of the industry implies an increased demand for irrigation water. However, South Africa is a water scarce country characterised by low and erratic rainfall, where fruit production relies heavily on irrigation. The agricultural sector is under an obligation to reduce water use due to the increasing demand for water by other economic sectors. Therefore, it must find efficient water use techniques to save water and ensure water availability for other economic sectors. Partial root-zone drying (PRD) is an irrigation technique which may lead to 50% reduction in water use, half of the root system is kept wet while the other half is left dry to a predetermined level of soil water depletion, the dry and the moist sides are alternated at regular intervals. During storage and transportation of fresh produce, low temperature is a post-harvest tool used to maintain quality, especially when fruit are destined for long distant export markets. This study investigated the effect of PRD and low temperature storage on post-harvest quality parameters of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit. The experiment was laid as a factorial arranged in randomised complete block design (RCBD). The treatment factors for chilling injury, electrolyte leakage and vascular browning were 2 x irrigation regimes (Full Irrigation (FI) vs. PRD) and 2 x storage temperatures (2.0 and 5.5°C). However, treatment factors for fruit weight loss, respiration rate, fruit firmness, ripening percentage and fruit skin colour were 2 x irrigation regimes (Full Irrigation (FI) vs. PRD), 2 x storage temperatures (2.0 and 5.5°C) and 4 ripening days (0, 2, 4 and 6 days). Mature ‘Hass’ avocado fruit were harvested from PRD and fully irrigated trees and thereafter fruit of each treatment were stored at 2.0 and 5.5°C for 28 days. Each treatment consisted of 6 replicates, with an exception of electrolyte leakage, whereby the experiment was replicated 4 times. After 28 days’ storage at 2.0 and 5.5°C, fruit were ripened at 21°C. The effect of PRD and low temperature storage was determined by evaluating the following physico-chemical fruit parameters during ripening: external chilling injury, electrolyte leakage, fruit weight loss, respiration rate, firmness, fruit skin colour and vascular browning. During ripening, ‘Hass’ avocado fruit stored at 2.0°C showed significantly higher incidences of external chilling injury symptoms compared with xiii 5.5°C, irrespective of irrigation treatment. Furthermore, an interaction between irrigation treatment and low storage temperature had a significant (P<0.05) effect on cell membrane electrolyte leakage. All evaluated fruit showed similar weight loss, irrespective of irrigation and storage treatment. Irrigation, storage temperature and ripening days did not have effect on respiration during ripening. Fruit reached the respiratory climacteric peak on the same day (day 2). Furthermore, there was no significant interaction effect (P˃0.05) on fruit firmness. However, PRD treated fruit showed slightly low firmness when compared with control fruit. ‘Hass’ avocado fruit harvested from PRD and fully irrigated trees and stored at 5.5°C ripened quicker compared to fruit stored at 2.0°C. There was no significant interaction effect (P˃0.05) on fruit skin lightness (L), chroma (C), hue angle (h°) and fruit eye colour due to irrigation and cold storage treatment. In general, fruit showed skin colour change from emerald green to approximately 75% coloured. Furthermore, irrigation and storage temperature did not have effect on vascular browning, however, there incidence was high on fruit stored at 2.0°C when compared with 5.5°C. The results of this study indicated that ‘Hass’ avocado fruit stored at 2.0°C was negatively affected by low temperature storage and this cold storage temperature is not recommended. PRD reduced water use during irrigation, however, its effect on post-harvest quality of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit subjected to 5.5°C must be further investigated before recommended for export markets. / Agricultural Research Council-Tropical and Subtropical Crops (ARC-TSC) and Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSeta)

Thesis (M.Sc. (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The South African Avocado Industry has recently announced plans to expand exports into new markets, such as the United States (US). As a requirement for these markets, fruit of high quality must be stored at ultra-low temperature to mitigate phytosanitary risks. However, ‘Hass’ avocado fruit are susceptible to chilling injury when stored at temperatures below 3°C. Moreover, CI development resulted in uneven ripening and disease infestation due to damaged cell membranes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) on quality maintenance of 'Hass' avocado fruit during ultra-low cold storage. Matured ‘Hass’ avocado fruit were harvested at commercial dry matter (22%). The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) with eight replications per treatment. Treatment concentrations for methyl jasmonate (MeJA) were 0 (control), 10 and 100 μmol•L−1 , while those for salicylic acid (SA) were 0 (control), 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM. After treatments, fruit were stored at 2°C for 31 days and thereafter, ripened at ambient temperature (±25°C) until fully ripe. During ripening, fruit were evaluated for weight loss, exocarp colour, firmness, chilling injury, as well as physiological (vascular browning) and pathological disorders (fruit rot). In this study, dipping fruit in MeJA solution significantly (P < 0.05) reduced ‘Hass’ avocado fruit firmness loss. Moreover, MeJA showed a significant effect (P < 0.05) on hue angle (h°) but did not significantly affect (P > 0.05) visual colour rating, chroma (C*), lightness (L*) and weight loss. The results showed that ‘Hass’ avocado fruit treated with 10 μmol•L−1 MeJA reduced weight loss when compared with 100 μmol•L−1 MeJA from day 2 to day 8 of ripening. Overall results showed a visual change in ‘Hass’ avocado fruit exocarp colour, with eye colour changing from rating 1 (emerald-green) to 3 (olive- green) for control and fruit treated with MeJA throughout the ripening days. Furthermore, MeJA reduced ‘Hass’ avocado fruit external chilling injury, physiological and pathological disorders. With respect to SA treatments, the result showed that dipping fruit at 1.0 and 2.0 mM SA had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on reducing firmness loss during ripening. Salicylic acid (1.0 mM) reduced and alleviated ‘Hass’ avocado fruit external chilling injury during ultra-low cold storage. Furthermore, result showed that 1.0 and 2.0 mM SA treatments had significant affect (P < 0.05) on firmness loss. Moreover, a significant effect was observed on visual colour and C* but did not affect (P > 0.05) L* and h°. Fruit treated with SA showed poor exocarp colour development with extended exposure to ultra-low cold storage, as a result, developed chilling symptoms. The treatment of ‘Hass’ avocado fruit with 1.0 mM SA inhibited the incidence of fruit rot and vascular browning when compared with control and fruit treated with 2.0 and 3.0 mM SA. In conclusion, 10 and 100 μmol•L−1 MeJA and 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mM SA effectively preserved ‘Hass’ avocado fruit quality during storage at ultra-low temperature. / Agricultural Sector Education Training Authority (AgriSeta) and National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (M. Sc. (Agriculture, Horticulture)) --University of Limpopo, 2016 / ‘Reed’ avocado is a late season cultivar introduced to South Africa from California. The cultivar has shown good adaptation and produces quality fruit with export potential. Its pre-harvest adaptation and production aspects have been researched and documented. However, the effect of harvest time, post-harvest storage and ripening temperature has not been comprehensively studied on this newly introduced ‘Reed’ avocado cultivar. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the effect of different harvest time, post-harvest storage and ripening temperature on the quality of late season ‘Reed’ avocado fruit. Matured ‘Reed’ avocado fruit were harvested based on moisture content indexing in December (2015) and January (2016). The experiment was carried out in a factorial, arranged in a completely randomised design (CRD) with three replicates. Treatment factors were: 2 x harvest time (mid-and late), 2 x post-harvest storage (2.0 and 5.5°C), 3 x ripening temperature (16, 21 and 25°C) and 5 x ripening day (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8). Fruit were stored at 2.0 and 5.5°C for 28 days, thereafter, ripened at 16, 21 and 25°C until fully ripe. During ripening, fruit were evaluated for weight loss, skin colour, firmness, respiration rate, physiological and pathological disorders. Mid-harvest fruit had higher moisture content when compared with late harvest fruit. However, harvest time, post-harvest storage, ripening temperature and ripening time (days) significantly influenced fruit weight loss, firmness, respiration rate, ripening percentage of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit during ripening. Moreover, fruit firmness decreased faster at higher temperatures (25 and 21°C) with fruit ripening within 4 and 6 days, respectively. In addition, ripening at a lower temperature (16°C) was slower with fruit fully ripened within 8 days after withdrawal from cold storage at both harvest times. ‘Reed’ avocado fruit respiration rate followed a climacteric pattern, however, significantly higher rate at higher temperature (25°C) when compared with lower temperature (16°C) after withdrawal from cold storage during both harvest times. Interestingly, mid-harvest fruit showed high electrolyte damage after withdrawal from 2.0°C when compared with late harvest fruit at the same temperature. Furthermore, mid-harvest fruit stored at 2.0ºC and ripened at 21°C showed higher chilling injury when compared with fruit ripened at 16 and 25°C. High electrolyte leakage positively correlated (R2 = 0.242) with high chilling damage for xiv mid-harvest fruit stored 5.5°C. Treatment factors had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on lightness (L *) and hue angle (h ) but no significant effect (P > 0.05) on chroma (C *) and eye colour of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit during ripening, irrespective of harvest time. Overall results showed a visual change in ‘Reed’ avocado skin colour, with eye colour changing from green to bright yellow. Furthermore, late harvest fruit showed high post-harvest pathological diseases after removal from high temperature (5.5°C) when compared with mid-harvest fruit stored at low storage temperature (2.0°C). Ripening at a higher temperature (21 and 25°C) resulted in higher incidence of stem-end rot and body rot when compared with lower temperature (16°C) for both harvest times. Late harvest fruit showed a higher incidence of vascular browning at higher ripening temperatures (21 and 25°C) when compared with lower temperature (16°C) after withdrawal from cold storage. Moreover, overall results showed that harvest time, post-harvest storage and the ripening temperature had a profound influence on the quality of ‘Reed’ avocado fruit. In conclusion, ‘Reed’ avocado fruit can be harvested during mid- or late season and stored at recommended low temperature (2.0ºC); and thereafter, ripened at either 16 or 21ºC. In addition, future studies should focus on identifying pre-harvest practices that promote higher post-harvest fruit quality for ‘Reed’ avocado fruit under South African production environment. Keywords: ‘Reed’ avocado fruit; firmness; electrolyte leakage; respiration rate; stem-end rot; body rot; vascular browning