Respiratory patterns of European pear (Pyrus communis L. ‘Conference’) throughout pre- and post-harvest fruit development

Abstract

Information on the developmental stage of pear pre-harvest and in shelf-life is crucial to determine the optimum timing of harvest, post-harvest treatment, and time of consumption ensuring high eating quality. In the present study, CO2 emission and fruit quality of European pear (Pyrus communis L.) ‘Conference’ were analysed pre- and post-harvest with emphasis on shelf life for three years. Additionally, cytochrome and cyanide-resistant O2 consumption were analysed in the last year of experiments. The respiration rate of pear showed typical climacteric rise of CO2 emission in two years only, despite daily measurements. However, in each year the fruit quality in shelf life was closely linked to harvest date suggesting climacteric fruit response. Thus, the developmental stage of ‘Conference’ pear should be analysed by additional methods. Particularly, the cytochrome and cyanide-resistant O2 consumption showed an encouraging potential to obtain data on characteristic respiratory patterns.