MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF PEACHES - LIMITED POTENTIAL

This study evaluated the total and marketable yield of three peach cul tivars [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch. 'Autumnglo', 'Harvester', and 'Red haven'] when mechanical pruning and harvesting systems were used and t rees were grown under three irrigation regimes. All cultivars were tru nk-shaken using an experimental inertial shaker on an over the-row (OT R) shake-catch harvester. 'Autumnglo' also was hand-harvested at all i rrigation regimes. Fruit damage was not significantly affected by irri gation. A significant source of fruit damage was pruning debris that r emained in the canopy after hedging and became lodged in the fruit-con veying system, resulting in cultivar effects on fruit damage. Total yi eld of firm-ripe fruit was similar among cultivars in 1987 and 1988. H owever, 'Autumnglo' trees had a higher percentage of marketable fruit than 'Redhaven' or 'Harvester' in 1987 and 1991. Mechanical harvesting appeared to accelerate the decline of 'Autumnglo' as shown by tree de aths and greater symptom expression of Prunus necrotic ringspot virus. The potential for a single mechanical harvest of peaches is limited b ecause of the difficulty in managing the ripening window, the high pot ential for fruit damage, and the possibility of accelerated tree decli ne for disease-susceptible cultivars.