Author
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Shellie, Krista |
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Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: An instrumented sphere (IS) was used to assess the magnitude of impacts and cushioning provided on seven grapefruit packing lines. Unit operations with the greatest percentage of potentially damaging impacts were, in order of severity, 1) the size for #1 and #2 fruit; 2) hand separation of #2 fruit at the grading table; 3) the initial dump from a field bin to the packing line; and 4) collection into a field bin from the packing line. Decay levels for grapefruit collected after harvest, prior to packing, and after packing, did not reflect the severity or number of impacts to which the fruit were previously exposed, nor did they reflect the amount of red dye visible on TTC treated fruit. The TTC dye test was useful for identifying abrasive surfaces on packing lines. Results from this study demonstrate usefulness of the IS and the TTC dye test to packing line managers who want to maximize produce market quality. Technical Abstract: The objective of this project was to identify the number and magnitude of impacts to grapefruit encounter during handling operations in Rio Grande Valley packing sheds, and to relate severity and number of impacts to incidence of bruising and postharvest decay. Impacts were measured by running an Instrumented Sphere (IS), an 89 mm diameter ball containing an electronic, tri-axial accelerometer alongside grapefruit in seven Rio Grande Valley packing sheds. Impact force was recorded in g's (1g = 9.8 m. -s2) and amount of cushioning was recorded as a change in velocity (m.-s). Twenty grapefruit were collected from each packing shed at three stages in the handling process: the grove, prior to packing, and after packing. Ten of the 20 fruit were immersed in a solution containing triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride (TTC). The other 10 fruit were stored at 10 degrees C for 3 weeks and 23 degrees C for 7 days in separate, # standard grapefruit shipping boxes to evaluate incidence of decay. Unit operations with the greatest percentage of potentially damaging impacts were, in order of severity, 1) the size for #1 and #2 fruit; 2) hand separation of #2 fruit at the grading table; 3) the initial dump from a field bin to the packing line; and 4) collection into a field bin from the packing line. Decay levels for grapefruit collected after harvest, prior to packing, and after packing, did not reflect the severity or number of impacts to which the fruit were previously exposed, nor did they reflect the amount of red dye visible on TTC treated fruit. |
