Titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids content (SSC) in fruit from the warmest site were higher or the same as the fruit from the coldest site, depending on when fruit analysis were performed. The rate of flesh firmness loss during storage was greater in fruit from the coldest growing site for both cultivars and harvest maturities. At harvest, flesh firmness and starch index of fruit from the coldest site were higher or the same as those of the warmest sites (Caçador and Vacaria), depending on cultivar and harvest date. Fruit weight and red skin area were higher and russeting skin index lower in fruit from the coldest site (São Joaquim) for both cultivars. For the São Joaquim site compared with those of Caçador and Vacaria, average temperature during the growing season was lower whereas the number of winter chilling hours and the number of days from bloom to harvest were higher. ‘Fuji’ apples were harvested at two maturity stages, with early harvested fruit stored in air and late harvested fruit stored in CA. At each growing site, ‘Gala’ apples were harvested at one maturity stage and stored in a controlled atmosphere (CA). Fruit quality was assessed at harvest and after storage from the 5th through 8th year after planting. Experimental orchards with ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’ apple strains were established in the subtropical humid climate in Southern Brazil, between 26° and 28°S, in the growing sites of São Joaquim, Caçador and Vacaria, located 1415, 960, and 971 m, respectively, above sea level. This study evaluated the effect of growing site environmental conditions on apple fruit quality. ![]() Since the average interval from full bloom to first acceptable harvest in Ontario is 118 days for McIntosh, 132 days for Delicious and 133 days for Northern Spy, the ambient temperature beginning 98 days after full bloom for McIntos. This resulted in low starch index readings at first acceptable harvest in the southern apple growing areas of the province and high readings in the northern areas. Low temperatures favored the conversion of starch to sugar and high temperatures the reverse. Temperatures during 20 days before the harvest of McIntosh and 40 days before the harvest of Delicious and Northern Spy influenced the rate of starch hydrolysis and thus the starch index reading. The McIntosh, Delicious and Northern Spy starch test guides were useful for determining when these cultivars should be harvested. Starch test guides patterned after a guide already available for McIntosh were prepared and evaluated for determining the first acceptable harvest dates of the apple cultivars Delicious and Northern Spy.
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