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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Crop Diseases, Pests and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #264177
Title: Postharvest dried apricot color degradation of three California apricot accessions

Author
item Ledbetter, Craig

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/12/2011
Publication Date: 5/16/2012
Citation: Ledbetter, C.A. 2012. Postharvest dried apricot color degradation of three California apricot accessions. Meeting Abstract. 966:163-168.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: California’s dry apricot industry has provided high quality products for nearly a century, annually accounting for approximately 20% of available tonnage. The Patterson cultivar currently dominates California dry apricot sales, but the cultivar is not without faults. Newer cultivars and breeding accessions are being evaluated for quality attributes when processed as dry product. Apricot cultivars Patterson, Goldensweet and breeding selection Y117 were evaluated for changes in CIELAB coordinates L*, a*and b*, as well as color components Chroma and Hue throughout a seven month storage period at 25C. Fresh fruit samples of the three accessions differed significantly in initial quality characteristics (flesh pressure, Brix and juice acidity), with cultivar Goldensweet being harvested at a more fully mature state. Drying ratios of the three accessions varied significantly and ranged from 3.96 (Y117) to 4.61 (Patterson). Pre-storage dry apricot halves from the three accessions were visually distinct, and color coordinates L*, a*, b*, Chroma and Hue all varied significantly among the accessions. Values of L*, a*, b* and Chroma decreased throughout the storage period for all apricot accessions, but the rate of decrease was accession dependent. Hue values of dried apricot halves remained relatively constant during the seven month storage period, regardless of accession. Color degradation was most pronounced in cultivar Patterson, holding sufficient visual appeal for marketability between four to five months in storage. In contrast to Patterson, dried halves of Goldensweet and Y117 were deemed marketable at the end of seven months storage, and therefore suitable for sales during the important Holiday period.