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ARS Home » Plains Area » College Station, Texas » Southern Plains Agricultural Research Center » Crop Germplasm Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #69885
Title: EFFECT OF SEASON, CULTIVAR, LOCATION, AND STORAGE REGIME ON KERNEL COLOR IN PECANS

Author
item Grauke, Larry
item Thompson, Tommy
item YOUNG, JR, E - RETIRED

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Munsell system of color notation was used to study differences in kernel color arising between four pecan cultivars (`Cheyenne,' `Choctaw,' `Western' and `Wichita') grown at four locations (Tulare, CA, and Brownwood, Crystal City, and El Paso, TX) during two seasons (1987 and 1988), and stored under different temperatures (ambient and frozen). The hue, value, and chroma of pecan kernels varied significantly in the two years of the test. Kernels collected in 1987 were more yellow, lighter, and had greater color saturation than kernels collected in 1988. Cultivars differed in hue, value and chroma at the initial color determination. `Cheyenne' kernels were the most yellow (hue of 18.8) and were the lightest (value of 6.4) of any cultivars tested. `Wichita' kernels were more intensely colored (chroma of 4.7) than `Cheyenne' or `Choctaw' kernels. Kernels from pecan trees in El Paso were more yellow than those from other locations and were lighter than kernels from either Brownwood or Tulare, CA. Kernels evaluated after being frozen 6 or 12 months could be distinguished from fresh kernels on the basis of hue. Frozen samples were more red than fresh kernels. Kernels frozen 12 months were less intensely colored than fresh kernels or those frozen only 6 months. There was a significant linear relationship between time in the freezer and each color attribute. Hue and chroma were negatively correlated with storage time, while value was positively correlated.