POSTHARVEST STORAGE QUALITY OF GAMMA-IRRADIATED CLIMAX RABBITEYE BLUEBERRIES

Postharvest quality of 'Climax' rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Read) was evaluated after exposure to dosages of 0, 0.75, 1.5, 2.25, or 3.0 kGy gamma irradiation (0.118 kGy.min-1) and after subsequent st orage. Irradiation did not affect weight loss, but irradiated berries were softer than nontreated berries. There was also a trend toward inc reased decay as dose increased. Irradiation had no effect on powdery b loom or surface color; total soluble solids concentration, acidity, an d pH were affected slightly. Flavor preference was highest for nonirra diated berries and generally declined as dosage increased. Irradiation at 2.25 and 3.0 kGy resulted in increased levels of xylosyl residues in cell walls, and xylosyl residues were the most abundant cell-wall n eutral sugar detected in blueberries. There was no evidence of cell wa ll pectin loss in irradiated berries. Irradiation at greater-than-or-e qual-to 1.5 kGy lowered the quality of fresh-market 'Climax' blueberri es.