Starch index value 



6 

 5 

 4 

 3 

 2 



13 18 23 28 33 38 43 48 



Days after August 31 



Figure 4. Starch-iodine values of Delicious fruit during the 1988, 1989, and 1991 harvest 

 seasons. 



Delicious fruit during the 1988, 1989, and 1991 

 harvest seasons. Results from Delicious were 

 not consistent with those for the other three 

 cultivars. If the average of 1988 and 1989 

 represents a normal season, i.e. the middle of the 

 harvest season on approximately October 8, 

 then 1991 was about 13 days ahead of normal. 

 This difference was very obvious in terms of the 

 very early development of watercore, as well as 

 significant preharvest drop. It is unclear why 

 Delicious were as early as they were, but it may 

 have been related somewhat to Hurricane Bob. 



Delicious have a very long pedicel and may have 

 received more damage as a result of being blown 

 around. This damage may have caused signifi- 

 cant numbers of fruit to ripen earlier than nor- 

 mal. Clearly, they experienced more drop as a 

 direct result of the hurricane. 



The 1991 season was one that most growers 

 would prefer to forget. The cold damage in April, 

 the early bloom, the poor set, Hurricane Bob, an 

 un-nerving harvest season, and (as always) the 

 uncertainty of the market together made all of 

 us wish that it was 1992. 



Fruit Notes, Fall, 1991 



17 



