Postharvest Nut Quality, and Changes of Soluble Solids Content and Kernel Hardness During Cold Storage in Korean Prevailing Chestnut Cultivars

摘要

Postharvest nut quality, and changes of soluble solids content and kernel hardness during cold storage in 13 Korean prevailing chestnut cultivars were investigated to establish the chestnut grading and standardization for marketing and processing industry. Chestnut quality attributes such as nut weight, soluble solids content, kernel hardness, % with the pericarp split, and % of polyembryonic nuts were measured from 2001 to 2005. There were significant difference among cultivars in quality characteristics, and also annual variation within same cultivar, corresponded to the high genetic and environmental variability. During cold storage at 2°C for 16 weeks, remarkable changes in soluble solids content were observed, and Isseumo showed the highest increase of 8% at 16 weeks of cold storage compared with postharvest. In case of most cultivars except early ripening cultivars, soluble solids content of chestnut increased until 12 weeks during cold storage, followed by decreased gradually thereafter. Kernel hardness of most cultivars except Ishizuchi during cold storage increased slightly, but it was not statistically significant. This work would be a useful reference to the quality of each chestnut cultivar for the growers and breeders alike.