A tool to predict fruiting in terms of number of days after
anthesis based on fruit skin and pulp colour of pitaya (Stenocereus
thurberi (Engelm.) Buxb.).
Tiznado-Hernández, M. E. , Ojeda-Contreras, A. J. , Sánchez-Estrada, A.
, Moreno-Velázquez, D. , Mercado-Ruiz, J. N.
Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, Departamento de
Tecnología de Alimentos de Origen Vegetal, Carretera a la Victoria km.
0.6, Apartado Postal 1735, Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
A model for the prediction of fruit development stage in Stenocereus
thurberi [Lemaireocereus thurberi] was developed. Fruits were sampled
from a field in Hermosillo, Sonora, México, in June and July 1999 and
2000, at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 37 and 40 days after anthesis (DAA). A
Minolta chromameter CR-300 set was used to quantify fruit skin and pulp
colour. A multiple linear model was developed using the stepwise
procedure in forward selection. F statistics, mean square error,
coefficient of determination, Mallows coefficient, and distribution of
residuals around zero were used as indicators of the efficiency of
model prediction. The results indicated the possibility of predicting
the fruiting stage in S. thurberi in terms of DAA based on fruit pulp
and skin characters. |
