Variety traits

Sweet cherry shelf life

Prunus avium (L.) L.

The ability of sweet cherry fruits to maintain their market quality, determined by the genetic type of the flesh (guigne or bigarreau) and resistance to cracking.

In the reference 49 varieties crop Sweet cherry, where this is mentioned in the description.

In sweet cherry breeding and pomology, two groups of fruits are distinguished: guignes, characterized by soft and watery flesh, and bigarreaux, possessing a firm and crunchy texture. Varieties of the bigarreau group demonstrate superior transportability and storage capacity, whereas guignes are suitable only for immediate consumption.

The shelf life index is evaluated through physical and mechanical properties, such as flesh firmness and the cracking index, determined by the Werner method. Since damaged fruits are prone to rapid decay, high skin resistance to cracking is a critical factor for shelf life.

Preservation of the market appearance of sweet cherries after harvest is achieved by managing fruit respiration through rapid hydrocooling and maintaining temperature conditions in the range of 0°C to +1°C. Further extension of storage life is attained by using a modified atmosphere with an increased carbon dioxide content.

General information about the subject — on the page Keeping quality.

Sources8

Varieties of Sweet cherry mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.