Quality of cactus pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.] fruit in relation to ripening time, CaCl2 pre-harvest sprays and storage conditions

Post-harvest behaviour of summer and autumn ripening cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. Cactaceae) fruit cv. Gialla was investigated in relation to pre-harvest growing conditions, and CaCl2 applications. Summer ripening cactus pear fruit were stored for 5 weeks at 6 degrees C and 90-95% relative humidity (RH), and 3 days at 20 degrees C, 75% RH to simulate a marketing period (SMP). Autumn ripening fruits were kept under the same conditions for 7 weeks plus a SMP, Summer ripening cactus pear fruit were more susceptible to chilling injury and to weight loss, but less sensitive to decay than autumn fruit. CaCl2 delayed rind colour development and increased fruit resistance to decay but promoted susceptibility to chilling injury. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.