Susceptibility to chilling injury of peach, nectarine, and plum cultivars grown in California

The susceptibility to chilling injury (CI) or internal breakdown (IB) was e valuated in the most currently planted yellow- and white-flesh peach [Prunu s persica (L.) Batsch] and nectarine [Prunus persica var. nectarine (L.) Ba tsch] and plum [Prunus salicina Lindel] cultivars from different breeding s ources and fruit types. Cultivars were segregated into three categories (Ca t. A, B, and C) according to their susceptibility to CI or IB symptoms (mea liness and flesh browning) when exposed to 0 degrees C or 5 degrees C stora ge temperatures. Cultivars in Cat. A did not develop any symptoms of CI aft er 5 weeks of storage at either temperature. Cultivars in Cat. B developed symptoms only when stored at 5 degrees C within 5 weeks of storage. Cultiva rs were classified in Cat. C when fruit developed CI symptoms at both stora ge temperatures within 5 weeks of storage. Most of the yellow- and white-fl esh peach cultivars developed IB symptoms when stored at both storage tempe ratures (Cat, C). Most of the new nectarine cultivar introductions did not develop CI symptoms when stored at 0 degrees C or 5 degrees C after 5 weeks (Cat. A). Three out of six plum cultivars tested had CI symptoms within 5 weeks storage at 0 degrees C. However, all of the plum cultivars tested dev eloped CI symptoms when stored at 5 degrees C (Cat, B). The. importance of proper temperature management during postharvest handling was demonstrated.