Strawberry desiccation and gloss in refrigerated storage depends on an interaction between cultivar and time after harvest

Authors: Lewers, Kimberly; Bello, Nora

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/25/2024
Publication Date: 12/30/2024
Citation: Lewers, K.S., Bello, N.M. 2024. Strawberry desiccation and gloss in refrigerated storage depends on an interaction between cultivar and time after harvest. HortScience. 60(1):120–125. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18178-24.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18178-24

Interpretive Summary: Consumers are more likely to purchase strawberries that look fresh. The earliest indicators that a strawberry is not fresh are a loss of glossiness and signs the strawberries are loosing hydration, such as wrinkling and bruising. For three years, we planted named strawberry cultivars in two different production systems. We harvested them twice weekly, measured the gloss of strawberries at harvest and after one and two weeks of refrigerated storage, and also rated the strawberries according to how desiccated they looked. Strawberries from some cultivars were glossier at harvest than strawberries from other cultivars. Rankings for gloss or desiccation varied dependent on whether data were recorded at harvest, after one week in refrigerated storage, or after two weeks. The ranking of cultivars did not depend on which production system they were grown in. Gloss and desiccation ratings were independent of each other. Strawberry geneticists and breeders can use these techniques to determine the inheritance of strawberry gloss and to develop cultivars that are glossy at harvest and stay glossy and fresh looking in storage. Food quality researchers can use these techniques to test ways to maintain strawberry freshness in refrigerated storage.

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were: 1) to characterize strawberry cultivars according to gloss at harvest and assess cultivar differences in gloss relative to production system and harvest/packing date; and 2) to assess cultivar differences in gloss loss and desiccation score change during refrigerated postharvest storage. Nine strawberry cultivars were grown in an annual plasticulture system for three years, harvested twice weekly, and packaged for refrigerated storage. After one week and again at two weeks after refrigerated storage, berry gloss was measured, and subjective desiccation scores also were assigned to the berries. A subset of four cultivars also was grown in a low-tunnel production system and harvested, packaged, and evaluated similarly. The cultivar means for both traits were primarily determined by the interaction between cultivar and measurement week (at harvest, after one week of storage, and after two weeks of storage). Cultivar rankings were different at harvest compared to after one week or two weeks of storage. For both gloss and desiccation, the rankings of cultivar means within each time period were consistent between production systems and across each year’s harvest/packaging dates. Some cultivars were observed to be superior for both glossiness and low desiccation in storage. Some cultivars did not lose gloss, and some did not show markedly increased desiccation during storage.