EFFECT OF PICKING TIME AND STORAGE-CONDITIONS ON COXS ORANGE PIPPIN APPLE TEXTURE IN RELATION TO CELL-WALL CHANGES

Apples of cv. Cox's Orange Pippin were harvested on two dates accordin g to the criteria when the apples were best for long-term storage (ear ly picked) and best for consumption (late picked). Fresh apple texture was measured. The apples were stored under 0 degrees C and CA conditi ons respectively. At defined time intervals, the physical properties o f the apples were measured destructively and non-destructively. The ap ple tissue structural changes were investigated at cell wall and middl e lamella level with light microscopy. The experimental results showed that the early picked apples maintained higher firmness during the 0 degrees C and CA storage. The CA stored apples showed better quality c ompared with 0 degrees C stored apples. Later picked 'Cox' apples tend to lose their firmness faster during the postharvest storage. More ce ll wall breakage was observed from the early picked apples indicating a less mealy texture than the late picked apples. Sweetness was increa sed during storage and the late picked apples showed higher SSC value. Apple firmness related to the extractable juice content and cell wall breakage.