Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Pi-Chuan Liu, Yau-Shiang Yang*, Der-Lan Wang and Tsu-Ching Wang

Abstract:

    The objective of this study is to study the effect of different ages of shoots on the development and storage quality of fruits of ‘Chun-Choi’ carambola (Averrhoa carambola) in the same trees. The results showed that the carambola fruit growth curve is single sigmoid indicating no stagnant period during fruit development. The fruits, which blossomed in May, increase rapidly in fruit length, rib thickness, rib width and fruit cirumfence one week after blossom. However, increase of fresh weight and size of fruits and accumulation of total soluble solids (TSS) started from 4th week and 7th weeks, respectively, after blossom. The fruits reach into physiologically matured period when the appearance of outer growth turned mild at the 10 weeks after blossom. Meanwhile, the fruit color turned gradually from dark green during development period into complete yellow of maturity period. The interior components are also changed. Water content, total soluble solids and sugar content were increase with the increase of fruit size, whereas hardness and titratable acid were decrease. Compare to young shoots, fruits born on old shoots were heavier and larger, with wider rib, short oval shaped and lighter skin color. Their fruit components including total soluble solids and sugar content were lower, whereas titratable acid and hardness were higher. The storage quality of fruits born on different age shoots was also different. Fruits born on old shoots lost less weight in the first week at room temperature, but lost more in later stage. Meanwhile, the old shoot-producing fruits lost less weight after storage at 5℃ for 21 days and then at room temperature for 19 days fruits.

Key words:star fruit, carambola, fruit growth, fruit quality

Download: PDF Links