LAUSR

The post-harvest quality of ‘Triumph’ persimmon fruits grown in the Western Cape, South Africa varies with seasons. Poor post-harvest fruit quality is assumed to be associated with seasons that are characterized by violent wind occurrences. This study was carried out to investigate if pre-harvest wind damage to trees and fruit affects post-harvest fruit quality. The study was conducted in the 2012 and 2013 seasons. Wind and its damage were simulated by blowing trees with a mist blower, shaking trees, defoliating half of the trees and twisting fruit stalks 10 days prior to harvest. Fruit quality was evaluated at harvest, after 6½ weeks storage and after four days shelf-life. Simulated wind and its damage affected fruit quality at different stages during storage. Defoliation and twisting of fruit stalks increased soft fruits from 0% at harvest to 28% after storage in the 2012 season. Defoliation and blowing trees decreased total soluble solids after shelf-life in both seasons. Twisting fruit stalks delayed fruit colour development after storage and after shelf-life in the 2013 season. Blowing trees increased soft fruits to around 50% after shelf-life in both seasons. It can, therefore, be concluded that, post-harvest quality of ‘Triumph’ persimmon fruits is negatively affected by pre-harvest wind damage.