Effect of Mechanical Harvesting on Keeping Quality of Florida Citrus Fruit for the Fresh Fruit Market1

Abstract

‘Hamlin,’ ‘Pineapple,’ and ‘Valencia’ oranges and ‘Marsh’ grapefruit were harvested by hand and with either the limb clamp shaker, foliage (coil) shaker, or vacuum tube picker's aid. Harvesting trials were combined with tests of abscission sprays, pre- and postharvest fungicides, and simulated fresh fruit marketing. All mechanical shaker harvesting increased losses from cuts and punctures, but “plugging” was so reduced that percentage of sound fruit sometimes did not differ significantly from that in the hand picked controls. When mechanical harvesting was followed by the fungicide thiabendazole (TBZ) decay in ‘Hamlin’ oranges during simulated fresh fruit marketing was not significantly higher than in the hand harvested controls treated with diphenyl only. Mechanically harvested fruit from trees sprayed with benomyl (Benlate) always had less decay than hand harvested fruit without the benomyl spray, differences usually being significant. Abscission sprays were helpful only for crops intended for cannery use. Long stems on mechanically harvested fruit remain a problem.