Variation in harvest and storage quality of fruit from different positions on kiwifruit vines

Abstract

Abstract The storage quality of fruit from six positions on kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) vines was investigated using fruit from both pergola and T‐bar trained vines growing in three districts in one season. The positions were expected to provide fruit which exhibited the greatest differences in soluble solids concentrations (SSC) and flesh firmness at harvest and during storage. Effects of fruit position on SSC were reasonably consistent between orchards, and between fruit at harvest and after coolstorage. In general, SSC tended to be higher in fruit from the ends of the leader than in fruit from nearer the centre of the vine. Fruit from the proximal ends of canes, near the leader, tended to have higher SSC than fruit from the distal ends of the canes, particularly for T‐bar vines. For fruit near the leader, fruit from canes contained higher SSC than fruit from spurs, particularly in pergola orchards. In the two districts where comparisons between training systems could be made, fruit from T‐bar‐train...