Annona Species Monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Chapter 11. Harvest & Processing
needs to be improved for cherimoya to ensure better fruit consistency,
flavour and quality (Palma et al., 1993; Alves et al., 1997; Nomura et al.,
1997; Nakasone and Paull, 1998).
Soursop fruits ripen very quickly on the tree. As a consequence, they require
frequent visits to the orchard during the harvest season. Maturation is
identified when there is a loss in shine and the skin colour changes from dark
green to light green (Salunkhe and Desai, 1984; Torres and Sánchez, 1992;
Accorsi and Manica, 1994). The carpel units spread apart when the fruits are
mature. In Colombia, growers and wholesalers press the fruit with their
thumbs to check the fruit maturity (Torres and Sánchez, 1992). It is not
recommended to leave soursop fruits ripening on the tree, because they fall
and lose market quality. However, if they are harvested before physiological
maturity, the fruits do not ripen well and the pulp may become bitter (Torres
and Sánchez, 1992).
Sugar apple fruits are considered to be mature and reach their harvesting
point when the skin changes colour and when the segments spread far apart,
exposing a creamy yellow skin (Salunkhe and Desai, 1984). At this point
they have reached their 'consumption point' (Plate 8). They mature at
irregular intervals over a period of 3 months, so that picking every other day
or so is obligatory. Premature harvesting can promote poor fruit quality and
fruits left to ripen on the tree are often eaten by birds and bats, and when
over-mature they have a tendency to break and decay (Salunkhe and Desai,
1984; Coronel, 1994; Lucas, 1994; Mosca et al., 1997a).
Annona fruits must be hand-harvested and put into cushioned boxes or
baskets to avoid mechanical damage or bruising (Nakasone and Paull, 1998).
The boxes must remain in the shade and be protected from rain, wind and
dust (Accorsi and Manica, 1994). The fruits may be cut from the branch with
pruning scissors, leaving 0.5 to 1 cm of the peduncle to avoid loss in weight
and fungal diseases (Accorsi and Manica, 1994; Alves et al., 1997). If the
fruits are pulled from the branch, the floral cushion can be damaged,
reducing the next harvest. The wounds can also become entry points for
rotting pathogens (Calzavara and Müller, 1987; Torres and Sánchez, 1992;
Mosca et al., 1997 b).
Depending on tree size, some species, such as sugar apple or soursop, are
harvested by climbing using a ladder, or with a pole with a hook and a basket
at its end (Torres and Sánchez, 1992; Coronel, 1994). Soursop harvest is
more difficult and time-consuming than other annonas because the trees are
usually taller and the fruits are larger (Nakasone and Paull, 1998). Nakasone
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