MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF THE FLESH OF SWEET AND SOUR CHERRIES

The mechanical properties of the flesh of sweet and sour cherry variet ies were studied using penetration of whole and skinned fruits by a cy lindrical pin. Fresh and canned fruits were included in the study. The results obtained, and their relation to results obtained previously, show that the cherry flesh plays a more important role in the deformat ion process when its apparent modulus of elasticity is greater than ap proximately 0.15 MPa. At lower values compression behaviour of the che rry flesh seems to resemble the behaviour of liquids, and the fruit sk in has a more important role in a fruit integrity.