Fruit Traits (Soluble Solid Contents, Firmness and Specific Gravity) of ‘Niitaka’ (Pyrus pyrifolia) by the Condition of Height of Fruiting Site on Tree and Picking Time
The present study was carried out to deduce optimum harvesting time based on fruit traits that were examined with fruits hanging the higher part (HP, higher than or equal to 2m height from the ground) and lower part (LP, lower than or equal to 1.5m height from the ground) on ‘Niitaka’ tree. The fruits of HP compared to of LP tended to be heavy and showed significantly higher soluble solid contents (SSC), hardness and gravity at each of the harvest time. On the basis f the discrepancies of the fruit traits between HP and LP, harvest time for the fruits of LP are acquired to be delayed for raising fruit weight and SSC. Due to the substantial probability of flesh pithiness based on the dramatic decrease of fruit gravity, it is necessary that the fruits of LP distributed just after harvesting or stored for short-term period.