FIELD PERFORMANCE, FRUIT CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FIRMNESS UNDER COLD STORAGE AND SIMULATED SHELF-LIFE CONDITIONS OF THREE BLUE HONEYSUCKLE CULTIGENS (Lonicera caerulea)

Abstract

Three cultigens of blue honeysuckle ('Wojtek', 'Czama' and seedling N) were compared with each other in a two-year experiment carried out in the climatic conditions of Western Pomerania, Poland. The greatest crops in 2006 and 2007 were obtained from 'Wojtek' cultivar (1118 g and 755 g per a bush, respectively), whereas the yields of 'Czama' and N were significantly lower. The bushes of 'Czarna' gave the lowest windfall of fruit (8.55% at average for two years). This cultivar produced berries with the highest weight of 100 fruits (115 g) and the highest firmness (220 G·mm -1 ). On the other hand, in each year of the experiment the fruit of N seedling had the highest dry weight (13.90%), soluble solids (11.85%) and vitamin C (85.30 mg·100 g -1 ) contents. During cold storage (temp. 2-3°C, relative air humidity 96%) and in the simulated shelf-life conditions (temp. 20°C, relative air humidity 75%), some changes in fruit weight and firmness were observed. However, immediate cooling of berries after harvest prolonged the time of their storage up to seven days. On the other hand, berries kept for eight hours in shelf-life conditions showed considerable loss of mass (10%) and significant lowering of firmness.