ARS | Publication request: Postharvest evaluations comparing Primocane- and Floricane-fruiting blackberries

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 1, 2007
Publication Date: June 1, 2007
Citation: McCall-Thomas, C., Clark, J.R., Perkins Veazie, P.M. 2007. Postharvest evaluations comparing Primocane- and Floricane-fruiting blackberries [abstract]. HortScience. 42(3):456.

Technical Abstract: Postharvest storage of blackberries from floricanes was compared with primocane berries in a study conducted at the University of Arkansas Fruit Research Substation, Clarksville in 2006. Berries were harvested directly into ½ pint polystyrene clamshells affixed with an absorbent liner and refrigerated at 5 C. After 7 d, the berries were measured for the presence/absence of decay, leakage, softness, and development of red drupes. The values were used to calculate an overall storability score. Results indicated ‘Prime-Jim'®, APF-27, and -40 show comparable overall storage quality for both primocane and floricane berries while APF-41 and -52 showed higher storability for floricane berries. APF-46 showed higher storability for primocane berries. Comparisons of floricane- and primocane-fruiting genotypes using floricane fruits only indicated no significant differences among genotypes for any measurements. However, APF-27, -41 and 52 most closely approached ‘Navaho' in overall storage quality and numerically surpassed that of ‘Prime-Jim'®.