Firmness and Antioxidant Capacity of Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Grown on Three Types of Organic Bed

An experiment was carried out in 2004-2005 to study the influence of bed and storage on fruit quality of highbush blueberry ‘Patriot’. The bushes were grown on three different types of organic bed irrigated with acidified water (pH 2.4-3.7). Measurements were made of firmness, size and antioxidant capacity (nmol Trolox·g^-1). The measurements were carried out at harvest and then at one and two weeks of cold storage. Firmness measurements were taken on the fruit equatorial (diameter) axis. Fruit from bushes growing on peat had the highest firmness values while fruit from bushes growing on Cocoa husk had the lowest. Comparisons were made of firmness using either the equatorial or polar (stem-calyx) axis of the blueberry. It was found that the polar axis measurements were over two times higher than the equatorial axis. Storing highbush blueberries in a cold room is essential in maintaining firmness. The average fruit size of ‘Patriot’ was between 11.2 mm and 13.4 mm in height and 17.7 mm to 21.1 mm in diameter.

Fruit harvested from bushes planted on peat had the highest antioxidant capacity with the lowest coming from bushes planted on Cocoa husk (nmol Trolox·g^-1). There was no significant difference in antioxidant activity from harvest to the end of the storage period.