Utilizing the I_AD index to determine internal quality attributes of apples at harvest and after storage

A hand-held instrument (DA Meter, Sinteleia, Bolonga, Italy) which measures chlorophyll nondestructively and gives an I_AD index (index of the absorption difference between 670 and 720nm), was used to measure quality attributes of three cultivars of apples. A preharvest study conducted in a 'Starking' apple orchard found determination coefficients of r² values of 0.79 to 0.64 between the I_AD index and starch levels, firmness, TSS and TA of fruit. Three orchards of 'Starking', 'Granny Smith' and 'Pink Lady' apples were sampled during commercial harvest and the apples held in air storage for up to six months. The I_AD index measured either at harvest or at removal from storage was correlated with TSS, TA and firmness of the apples. The r² values were best for TSS (0.76) and poorest for firmness (0.51). Moreover, the measurement at harvest and at removal from storage gave similar prediction coefficients for quality attributes. This measurement can be used to sort at harvest for different quality classes after storage, or at removal from storage for different marketing classes.