The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries

Surface pitting is a key postharvest disorder in sweet cherries (<i>Prunus avium</i> L.) that reduces visual quality and shortens shelf life. A three-year study evaluated 35 sweet cherry accessions (32 breeding lines, 3 cultivars) to assess the role of genotype, fruit quality traits, and...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pavol Suran, Veronika Danková, Tomáš Nečas, Pavlína Knapová, Lucie Plecitá
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/716
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849246369219346432
author Pavol Suran
Veronika Danková
Tomáš Nečas
Pavlína Knapová
Lucie Plecitá
author_facet Pavol Suran
Veronika Danková
Tomáš Nečas
Pavlína Knapová
Lucie Plecitá
author_sort Pavol Suran
collection DOAJ
description Surface pitting is a key postharvest disorder in sweet cherries (<i>Prunus avium</i> L.) that reduces visual quality and shortens shelf life. A three-year study evaluated 35 sweet cherry accessions (32 breeding lines, 3 cultivars) to assess the role of genotype, fruit quality traits, and storage treatments in minimizing pitting damage. Mechanical damage-induced surface pitting was quantified using a resistance index (RI), which ranged from 1.31 ± 0.26 (‘10072’) to 2.72 ± 0.45 (‘16806’), highlighting strong genotypic differences. Fruit firmness showed a strong negative correlation with the resistance index (RI) (r = −0.606). In contrast, soluble solids content (SSC) and fruit size had weak or non-significant correlations with RI, with correlation coefficients of r = −0.022 and r = −0.070, respectively. Only in the second harvest, ultra-low oxygen (ULO) storage resulted in the lowest RI (2.35 ± 0.13). Pre- and post-treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) gave similar results (2.50 ± 0.06 and 2.50 ± 0.15). Ozone pre-treatment was moderately effective (2.66 ± 0.14). Ozone post-treatment had the highest RI (2.85 ± 0.08). The results emphasize the importance of applying protective treatments prior to mechanical damage-induced surface pitting and selecting genotypes with high firmness and storage stability. This study provides a comprehensive framework for breeding and storage conditions aimed at reducing surface pitting in sweet cherries.
format Article
id doaj-art-eb418cf2dff941d4b866d23a288db75d
institution Kabale University
issn 2311-7524
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Horticulturae
spelling doaj-art-eb418cf2dff941d4b866d23a288db75d2025-08-20T03:58:31ZengMDPI AGHorticulturae2311-75242025-06-0111771610.3390/horticulturae11070716The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet CherriesPavol Suran0Veronika Danková1Tomáš Nečas2Pavlína Knapová3Lucie Plecitá4VYZKUMNY A SLECHTITELSKY USTAV OVOCNARSKY HOLOVOUSY Ltd., Holovousy 129, 508 01 Hořice v Podkrkonoší, Czech RepublicVYZKUMNY A SLECHTITELSKY USTAV OVOCNARSKY HOLOVOUSY Ltd., Holovousy 129, 508 01 Hořice v Podkrkonoší, Czech RepublicDepartment of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticulture in Lednice, Mendel University in Brno, Valticka 337, 691 44 Lednice na Moravě, Czech RepublicVYZKUMNY A SLECHTITELSKY USTAV OVOCNARSKY HOLOVOUSY Ltd., Holovousy 129, 508 01 Hořice v Podkrkonoší, Czech RepublicVYZKUMNY A SLECHTITELSKY USTAV OVOCNARSKY HOLOVOUSY Ltd., Holovousy 129, 508 01 Hořice v Podkrkonoší, Czech RepublicSurface pitting is a key postharvest disorder in sweet cherries (<i>Prunus avium</i> L.) that reduces visual quality and shortens shelf life. A three-year study evaluated 35 sweet cherry accessions (32 breeding lines, 3 cultivars) to assess the role of genotype, fruit quality traits, and storage treatments in minimizing pitting damage. Mechanical damage-induced surface pitting was quantified using a resistance index (RI), which ranged from 1.31 ± 0.26 (‘10072’) to 2.72 ± 0.45 (‘16806’), highlighting strong genotypic differences. Fruit firmness showed a strong negative correlation with the resistance index (RI) (r = −0.606). In contrast, soluble solids content (SSC) and fruit size had weak or non-significant correlations with RI, with correlation coefficients of r = −0.022 and r = −0.070, respectively. Only in the second harvest, ultra-low oxygen (ULO) storage resulted in the lowest RI (2.35 ± 0.13). Pre- and post-treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) gave similar results (2.50 ± 0.06 and 2.50 ± 0.15). Ozone pre-treatment was moderately effective (2.66 ± 0.14). Ozone post-treatment had the highest RI (2.85 ± 0.08). The results emphasize the importance of applying protective treatments prior to mechanical damage-induced surface pitting and selecting genotypes with high firmness and storage stability. This study provides a comprehensive framework for breeding and storage conditions aimed at reducing surface pitting in sweet cherries.https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/716sweet cherrysurface pittingpostharvest technology1-methylcyclopropeneozoneultra-low oxygen
spellingShingle Pavol Suran
Veronika Danková
Tomáš Nečas
Pavlína Knapová
Lucie Plecitá
The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries
Horticulturae
sweet cherry
surface pitting
postharvest technology
1-methylcyclopropene
ozone
ultra-low oxygen
title The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries
title_full The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries
title_fullStr The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries
title_full_unstemmed The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries
title_short The Influence of Storage Conditions and Fruit Quality Parameters on the Minimization of Surface Pitting in Sweet Cherries
title_sort influence of storage conditions and fruit quality parameters on the minimization of surface pitting in sweet cherries
topic sweet cherry
surface pitting
postharvest technology
1-methylcyclopropene
ozone
ultra-low oxygen
url https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/716
work_keys_str_mv AT pavolsuran theinfluenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT veronikadankova theinfluenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT tomasnecas theinfluenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT pavlinaknapova theinfluenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT lucieplecita theinfluenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT pavolsuran influenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT veronikadankova influenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT tomasnecas influenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT pavlinaknapova influenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries
AT lucieplecita influenceofstorageconditionsandfruitqualityparametersontheminimizationofsurfacepittinginsweetcherries