Genotypic Variation in Chilling Sensitivity of Mature-Green
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RESEARCH REPORTS Decoteau, D.R., M.J. Kasperbauer, and and temperature conditions between P.G. Hunt. 1989. Mulch surface color Genotypic Variation the treatments (Brown and Brown, affects yield of fresh market tomatoes. J. 1992). Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 114:216–219. in Chilling Sensitivity In conclusion, foam mulch main- tained its integrity for the entire grow- Gough, R.E. 2001. Colored plastic mulches of Mature-green increase fruit production in tomato and ing season and provided similar weed pepper. HortScience 36:587–588. Bananas and suppression to the black plastic mulch. Mulch color did not affect weed sup- Ham, J.M., G.J. Kluitenberg, and W.J. Plantains pression. This is probably because re- Lamont. 1993. Optical properties of plas- gardless of color the foam mulch did tic mulches affect the field temperature not allow light penetration and likely regime. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 118:188– 1 193. Keri L. Morrelli, served as a physical barrier impeding 2 weed emergence. Hanna, H.Y. 2000. Black polyethylene Betty M. Hess-Pierce, and Mulch color but not mulch type mulch does not reduce yields of cucumber Adel A. Kader3 affected early, ripe fruit, and total yield. double- cropped with tomatoes under heat Yields in blue foam mulch were greater stress. HortScience 35:190-191. than in the other treatments. Tomato Kasperbauer, M.J. and P.G. Hunt. 1998. ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. Musa fruit yields in black foam and black Far-red light affects photosynthate alloca- paradisiaca, chilling injury plastic mulches were similar. Further tion and yield of tomato over red mulch. research is needed to confirm the ef- Crop Sci. 38:970–974. SUMMARY. The variation in chilling fect of blue color on tomato yield and Liburd, O.E., R.A. Cassgrande, and S.R. sensitivity of mature-green specialty to compare blue foam mulch with blue Alm. 1998. Evaluation of various color bananas (Musa paradisiaca var. plastic mulch. Microenvironment hydromulches and weed fabric on broccoli sapientum) and plantains (Musa monitoring is also needed under foam insect populations. J. Econ. Entomol. paradisiaca var. paradisiaca) was mulch to determine its effects on the 91:256–262. examined using four cultivars of bananas and one plantain cultivar crop environment and to understand Loehrlein, M. 2001. Plastic mulch pro- stored under various time and tempera- how foam mulch impacts tomato duces variable response on early yield of ture combinations. Cold storage for 1 growth and yield. tomato. HortScience 36:588. day at 5.0, 7.2, or 10.0 °C (41, 45, or Foam mulch is currently being 50 °F) resulted in acceptable fruit commercialized for use in high-value Maynard, D.N. and G.J. Hochmuth. 1997. quality for up to 8 days at 20.0 °C (68 situations. Foam mulch may also have Knott’s handbook for vegetable growers. °F) for ‘Petite’ and ‘Red Macabu’ 4th ed. Wiley, New York. potential for use in organic vegetable bananas and ‘Dominico Harton’ production. At this stage, foam mulch McGiffen, Jr., M.E., J.B. Masiunas, and J. plantains. ‘Grand Nain’ and is more costly than plastic mulch and is Hesketh. 1992. Competition for light be- ‘Yangambi’ bananas were considered uneconomical to use on larger con- tween tomatoes and nightshades (Solanum unmarketable due to moderate to severe graying after 8 days at 20.0 °C ventionally-produced, commercial nigrum and S. ptycanthum). Weed Science 40:220–226. when fruit were previously stored for 1 plantings of tomato or basil. We ex- day at 5.0 or 7.2 °C. Storage for 3 days pect that as application technology is Morgan, A.W. 2000. Biodegradable mulch at 10.0 °C was acceptable for all improved and the use of foam mulch mat. US Patent 6,029,395. 29 Feb. 2000. cultivars tested, however 5 days at 10.0 becomes more common, the price of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Wash., °C resulted in moderate to severe foam mulch will decrease and its use in D.C. browning and graying of the ‘Grand larger vegetable plantings will increase. Ricotta, J.A. and J.B. Masiunas. 1991. The Nain’ fruit. The traditional Cavendish- effect of black plastic mulch on weed con- type, ‘Grand Nain’, as well as ‘Petite’ trol in herbs. HortScience 26:539–541. and ‘Yangambi’, required temperatures Literature cited greater than 10.0 °C for a 7-day Anderson, D.F., M.A. Garisto, J.C. Roberts, B.W. and J.A. Anderson. 1994. storage duration while ‘Red Macabu’ Bourrut, M.W. Schonbeck, R. Jaye, A. Canopy shade and soil mulch affect yield bananas could be safely stored for 7 Wurzberger, and R. DeGregorio. 1995. and solar injury of bell pepper. HortScience days at 10.0 °C. Plantains could be Evaluation of a paper mulch made from 29:258–260. stored at 7.2 °C for 7 days without recycled materials as an alternative to plas- visible chilling injury symptoms. The tic film mulch for vegetables. J. Sustainable Schmidt, J.R. and J.W. Worthington. 1998. storage of specialty bananas and Agr. 7:39–61. Modifying heat unit accumulation with plantains at or above their minimum contrasting colors of polyethylene mulch. safe temperatures resulted in improved Ashworth, S. and H. Harrison. 1983. Evalu- HortScience 33:210–214. uniformity of ripening and overall ation of mulches for use in the home quality of the fruit due to a decrease in garden. HortScience 18:180–182. Summers, C.G., J.J. Stapleton, A.S. New- ton, R.A. Duncan, and D. Hart. 1995. chilling injury symptoms. Brown, J.E., W.D. Goff, J.M. Dangler, W. Comparison of sprayable and film mulches Department of Pomology, University of California, Hogue, and M.S. West. 1992. Plastic mulch in delaying the onset of aphid-transmitted One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616. color inconsistently affects yield and earli- virus diseases in zucchini squash. Plant Dis. This paper is a portion of a MS thesis submitted by K.L. ness of tomato. HortScience 27:1135. 79:1126–1131. Morrelli. We thank Dole Fruit International for partial funding of this research. Brown, S.L. and J.E. Brown. 1992. Effect Tarara, J. 2000. Microclimate modifica- 1Graduate student. of plastic mulch color and insecticides on tion with plastic mulch. HortScience thrips populations and damage to toma- 35:169–180. 2Staff research associate. toes. HortTechnology 2:208–211. 3Professor and corresponding author; e-mail [email protected]. 328 G April–June 2003 13(2) RR3 328 2/25/03, 11:00 AM hilling injury (CI) in ba- were ripened; however, there were no using a gas chromatograph (Carle model nanas, as well as many additional signs of CI on the fruit. When 211; EG&G Engineering, Tulsa, Okla.) C other tropical and subtropical bananas were stored for 4 d at 7.2 °C, equipped with a flame ionization detec- fruits and vegetables, is a postharvest there was no effect on the ripening of tor and stainless steel column packed disorder which can result in great losses the pulp; however, there was a consider- with activated alumina at 80 °C (176 ° in the quality and shelf life of the fruit. able delay in the color development of °F). After the 48-h treatment period, Classic symptoms of CI in bananas are the peel (Young et al., 1932). Wardlaw the fruit were removed from the tanks subepidermal vascular browning, peel and McGuire (1931) found that ‘Gros and the bags and placed on trays at 20.0 discoloration, delayed or abnormal rip- Michel’ bananas developed CI symp- °C. External fruit quality was evaluated ening, and sometimes failure to ripen. toms when stored for 9 d at 10.6 °C (51 every other day for up to 8 d at 20.0 °C Experimentation to determine the °F) and 14 d at 11.1 °C (52 °F), while to assure development of any latent CI temperatures at which various banana no damage was observed when fruit symptoms (Fidler, 1968). cultivars should be stored and trans- were held for 16 to 20 d at 11.7 °C. QUALITY EVALUATIONS. Visual evalu- ported, primarily in relation to avoiding The focus of this study was to ations of peel color, browning, and CI during transit, was initiated in the determine the minimum safe temperature graying were made. Scoring for color early 1930s. ‘Gros Michel’ and ‘Dwarf for 7 d storage (simulated transport time was determined using a 1-7 color scor- Cavendish’ bananas were well suited for from production areas to U.S.) of five ing scale as described by Von Loesecke storage up to 18 d at 11.7 °C (53 °F) specialty banana and plantain cultivars. (1950): 1 = hard green; 2 = soft green; (Wardlaw, 1961). Wardlaw and 3 = more green than yellow; 4 = more McGuire (1933) reported that when Materials and methods yellow than green; 5 = yellow with green ‘Giant Governor’ (‘Giant Cavendish’) PLANT MATERIAL. Mature-green tips; 6 = full yellow; and 7 = yellow with fruit were stored for 16 d at 14.4 °C (58 ‘Grand Nain’ and ‘Petite’ bananas and brown spots. Color development in °F), the fruit was superior in color to ‘Dominico Harton’ plantains were ob- ‘Yangambi’ and ‘Red Macabu’ bananas that of fruit stored at 11.7 °C. ‘Fillbasket’, tained for the first experiment and was scored on a 1 to 6 color scale a ladyfinger-type banana, could with- ‘Yangambi’ and ‘Red Macabu’ bananas because fruit never developed brown stand 16 d at 11.7 °C and continue were obtained for the second experi- spots (based on previous observation). normal ripening and color development ment from Dole Fruit International, Peel browning was described as vascular when ripened at 21.1 °C (70 °F), while Costa Rica, via air transport.