Effects of Girdling, Defoliation and Flooding Treatments on Fruit Softening before and after Harvest in ‘Saijo’ Persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.).

Abstract

The mechanism of enhanced fruit softening on the tree following natural disaster was investigated in ‘Saijo’ persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) by girdling, defoliation and flooding treatments. The highest rate of fruit softening on the tree occurred after girdling treatment (20%). It is possible that ethylene production caused by girdling treatment may be involved in the subsequent fruit softening. Postharvest investigation also indicated that flooding or girdling treatments yielded the highest incidence of fruit softening. These results indicate that flooding caused by natural disaster or girdling induces physiological stress that results in fruit softening of ‘Saijo’ persimmon. It was clear that fruits with black spots below the calyx easily softened before and after harvest.