Quality management refers to maintaining quality throughout the logistical chain to the end consumer. With reference to stone fruit, shrivel due to moisture loss is the main postharvest defect and therefore the key research focus area. Prof Olaniyi Fawole has been conducting very interesting research on the use of edible coatings to prevent moisture loss and maintain fruit-keeping quality. During the last season of research, he showed that the commercial implementation of the technology will require some more thought and further experimentation. Pome fruit projects are aimed at optimising the Forelle Early Market Access (FEMA) programme in terms of release criteria and marketing protocol. Daniël Viljoen found that pears from FEMA-designated orchards that are harvested two to three weeks after normal release but do not qualify for FEMA release can be treated with FEMA rate 1-MCP. This will avoid excessive ripening during storage. The fruit should be cold stored for 12 weeks as part of the normal Forelle postharvest programme.
Expertise: Quality management workgroup
Research team
- Prof Wiehann Steyn
- Ms Anél Botes
- Mr Daniël Viljoen
- Dr Elke Crouch
- Dr Ian Crouch
- Mr Marnes Gouws
- Mr Handré Viljoen
- Dr Olaniyi Fawole
- Ms Heleen Tayler
- Dr Alemayehu Tsige
- Dr Zinash Belay
- Ms Shannon Riva – MSc student
- Ms Taongashe Majoni – MSc student
- Ms Makiwe Nkohla – MEng student
Projects list
POME FRUIT PROJECTS
- Development of a simple replacement for standard industry colour charts for pome fruit using the NIX colour sensor (I Crouch)
- Assessment of the use of the DA meter to increase the rigour of fruit sampling for release date determination in strip-picked orchards and to generate additional information for packhouses on the maturity of select pick fruit (M Gouws)
- The use of edible coatings as a viable replacement for plastic liners to maintain pome fruit quality (H Tayler)
- The use of Harvista (pre-harvest 1-MCP) application to prevent green colour loss and reduce blush of Granny Smith apples (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
- To assess the minimum acceptable malic acid equivalents level for Forelle pear destined for the FEMA programme (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Evaluation of logistic alternatives in container transport of apples and pears (A Tsige) [Abstract]
- Quantifying the role of vapour pressure deficit in the development of lenticel breakdown in Braeburn apples (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Quantifying the effect of bag perforations on forced-air cooling cycles and post storage quality of apples. (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
- The effect of DPA on fruit quality in pome fruit. (A Botes) [Abstract]
- The use of HarvistaTM (pre-harvest 1-MCP) application to control superficial scald on Packham’s Triumph pears. (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
- To develop marketing protocols for FEMA-designated orchards that are harvested two to three weeks after normal release but do not qualify for FEMA release. (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Thermal and non-thermal treatments of stone and pome fruit: Towards efficient phytosanitary measures. (O Caleb, Z Belay and N Nyamende) - see Pre- and post-harvest pathology [Abstract]
- Revision of FEMA release standards when fruit do not make FEMA firmness or sugar criteria. (D Viljoen) [Abstract]
STONE FRUITS PROJECTS
- Scanning plum cultivars for CO2 sensitivity and the effect of closed vents in shipping containers on relative humidity and CO2 levels (H Viljoen)
- The impact of relative humidity in commercial cold rooms during accumulation of pallets for shipping on shrivel with plums (H Viljoen)
- Technology testing for the ability to control shrivel in cold-stored plums and nectarines. (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Effect of irradiation as a mitigation treatment on storage quality of early peaches and nectarines for airfreight consignments. (H Viljoen) – see Phytosanitary and market access [Abstract]
- Profiling sugar metabolism in plums as related to maturity, cultivar difference and post-harvest storage regimes. (O Fawole and T Majoni) [Abstract]
- Effect of irradiation as a mitigation treatment on storage quality of early peaches and nectarines for airfreight consignments (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Technology testing for the ability to control shrivel in cold-stored plums and nectarines (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Profiling sugar metabolism and accumulation in plums as related to maturity, cultivar difference and postharvest storage regimes (O Fawole and T Majoni) [Abstract]
- Application of postharvest edible coatings to alleviate shrivel in plums and nectarines (O Fawole and S Riva) [Abstract]
- Develop optimum ripening protocols for nectarines and plums arriving too green (skin colour) or too firm in market. (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Identify and test improved packaging as well as humidity control in cold stores to reduce moisture loss and shrivel in nectarines. (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Identify and test improved packaging as well as humidity control in cold stores to reduce moisture loss and shrivel in plums. (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Postharvest moisture loss studies in Japanese plums (Prunus salicina Lindl). (E Lötze and I Kritzinger) [Abstract]
- Determine the CO2 sensitivity of the four main plum cultivars. (A de Kock) [Abstract]
- Evaluation of micro-perforated LDPE bags for reduction of postharvest moisture loss and shrivelling in Japanese plums (E Lötze)*
- Peel water vapour permeance of Japanese plums as indicator of susceptibility to postharvest shriveling (I Kritzinger)*
- Application of post-harvest edible coatings to alleviate shrivel in plums and nectarines. (O Fawole and S Riva) [Abstract]
- Evaluation of the 8 mm penetrometer plunger to determine harvest maturity on plums. (H Viljoen) [Abstract]
- Preharvest and postharvest applications of edible coatings to alleviate shrivel and maintain quality in stone fruit. (O Fawole) – Also Packaging / Logistics [Abstract]
- Thermal and non-thermal treatments of stone and pome fruit: Towards efficient phytosanitary measures. (O Caleb, Z Belay and N Nyamende) - see Pre- and post-harvest pathology [Abstract]
- Fresh Quarterly Dec 2021: Mouton, A. Temperature and humidity.
- SAFJ Apr/May 2022: Mouton, A. A futuristic view of in-line sorting: p. 91.