C. Kaiser et Bn. Wolstenholme, ASPECTS OF DELAYED HARVEST OF HASS AVOCADO (PERSEA-AMERICANA MILL) FRUIT IN A COOL SUBTROPICAL CLIMATE .1. FRUIT LIPID AND FATTY-ACID ACCUMULATION, Journal of Horticultural Science, 69(3), 1994, pp. 437-445
In the cool, mesic, subtropical Natal midlands, where delayed harvesti
ng of 'Hass' avocado fruit was practised, fruit lipid levels on a dry-
mass basis peaked in September 1991 and August 1992 at the cooler site
and October 1991 and September 1992 at the warmer site. In subsequent
months lipid levels decreased at the warmer site. These observations
suggest that under the experimental conditions, late hanging into the
following season was not strongly detrimental to the following crop an
d may even be beneficial if fruit lipids are a partially mobile energy
source, which may be utilized during periods of peak demand such as f
lowering, fruit set and shoot flushing. Fatty acid levels, dominated b
y the monounsaturated oleic acid, did not vary significantly with late
hanging, and were very similar in the two sites in the cool Natal mid
lands. However, compared with fruit harvested in late August in the no
rth-eastern Transvaal, total monounsaturated fatty acid levels were so
me 10% higher. These findings are discussed with respect to the health
aspects of the avocado. Attempts at modelling monounsaturated fatty a
cid levels were unsuccessful as levels differed significantly in diffe
rent months.