Estimation storage life of blueberry fruits of different taxons

Abstract

Based on the results of 12-year studies, the taxonomic characteristics of the keeping quality of berries of 27 cultivars end species of blueberries introduced in Belarus are shown. It was found that the storage postharvest of blueberry fruits under conditions of an ordinary gas atmosphere, depending on the taxon, varied from 7 days (swamp blueberry) to 29 days (‘Darrow' blueberry) at a storage temperature of +5 °C. Among the studied blueberry species, the fruits of tall blueberries and varieties obtained on the basis of this taxon retained their commercial qualities for a much longer period of time, compared to berries of other blueberry species. Fruits of late-ripening tall blueberry cultivars lose weight more slowly during storage and, accordingly, have a longer shelf life compared to berries of early-maturing taxa. The fruits of large-fruited blueberry cultivars are stored longer than the berries of small-fruited taxa of this crop. The keeping quality of blueberry berries, regardless of their taxonomic affiliation, was determined mainly by the natural loss of weight and, to a lesser extent, by waste from functional disorders and rot.