Record Details
Effects of nitrogen and storage time on the quality of highbush blueberry fruit
ScholarsArchive at Oregon State University
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Title | Effects of nitrogen and storage time on the quality of highbush blueberry fruit |
| Names |
DeFrancesco, Joseph T.
(creator) Martin, Lloyd W. (advisor) |
| Date Issued | 1987-06-12 (iso8601) |
| Note | Graduation date: 1988 |
| Abstract | To determine the effects of rate of nitrogen application and storage time on fruit quality of highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum, L.), five rates of ammonium sulfate fertilizer were soil-applied in 1984 and 1985 to cvs. Bluecrop and Jersey. Fruit was harvested up to three times during the 1985 season and held at 0°C for up to 40 days. The fruit quality characteristics measured were firmness, percent soluble solids, percent titratable acidity, pH, and percentage of fruit with mold. Leaf mineral analysis was performed in early August. Increased rates of N application increased berry firmness in both cultivars. A positive correlation existed between rate of N application and firmness for Jersey' berries at pick (r = .3041, p < 0.05, n 40), when averaged over all harvests. Berries from all N treatments were considered to be of acceptable quality for the fresh market. Increased rates of N application also increased percent titratable acidity, pH, and incidence of mold; influence of N on soluble solids was variable. The results from this study do not support the often-stated premise that high rates of N application result in soft berries. As length of time in cold storage increased, firmness and pH decreased and incidence of mold, percent soluble solids and percent titratable acidity increased, indicating that berries can be stored for only a certain length of time before an appreciable loss of quality occurs. |
| Genre | Thesis |
| Topic | Blueberries -- Quality |
| Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/1957/9203 |
