Fluorescence imaging as a diagnostic tool to detect physiological disorders during storage of apples

Abstract

In this paper, apples originating from different regions (Spain/Belgium) and subjected to different treatments, were analysed by the fluorescence imaging technique in order to detect and evaluate physiological disorders before any visual symptoms are observable. Already at harvest, the senescent degradation symptoms observed in fluorescence images enabled apple classification according to storage potential. The lowest storage potential was observed for N depleted apples harvested in early October (20 %) and mid October (8 %). N enriched apples presented respectively 50 % and 38 % healthy fruits at harvest. Ca treatment significantly increased the storage potential of the apples. Regarding quality of apples subjected to different water stress treatments, those with the worst permanent water shortage during the growing season appeared to be the best adapted to storage. A good correlation between total chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence intensity was found in all cases.