
Apple disorders and diseases
Good quality products are free from diseases and disorders! Customers will not buy apples with rots or with damaged skin. But also fruit that looks good on the outside but is brown or soft inside will not lead to happy customers. There are dozens of different diseases and disorders and these are not always easy to recognize. However, a good diagnosis is important. By recognizing the symptoms of a disease or disorder, it can be linked to the cause. If you know the cause, you know what measures can be taken to prevent the disease or disorder in the future.
Identifying apples diseases and disorders
Handling damage
Disorders and diseases
Apple disorders visible at harvest
Several apple disorders find their origin in the apple orchard. Some of them are already visible at harvest, but also some of them may worsen during storage. On this page we show some examples and explain how the problems start.
Internal apple disorders that develop after harvest
Several internal disorders of apples develop during storage or shortly after storage. Most of these disorders are only visible when cutting the apple into pieces. Here an overview is provided of the main internal disorders that occur after harvest.
Apple skin disorders that develop after harvest
Several skin disorders are not yet visible at harvest, but they will develop during storage or at other steps in the chain. Here we give an overview of the main skin disorders that can be found on apples
Apple rot caused by fungi
Apples can be affected by many different fungi. Here we give an overview of some frequently occurring rots caused by fungi.
"Most of the decay will only appear at the end of the supply chain, but is caused before. Harvesters and packers typically underestimate their impact on fruit quality and decay development"
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Are you planning to do other activities with apples?
Handling apples
Fruit, vegetables and flowers are living and sensitive products. When working with fresh products like apples, it is essential to realise the importance of handling products with care. This prevents food and quality losses and profit losses.
Packing and stacking apples
Apples are packed in all types of packaging. Crates, cartons, trays, bags and punnets are convenient containers for handling, transport and marketing. Careful packing is important when working with fresh produce, to avoid damages. The packaging is designed to protect the produce from mechanical damage, but is only effective when used correctly. When stacking the packages on a pallet, the risk of falling should be minimized. It must be done in such a way the packages provide each other stability. Completed pallets should be strapped well so that the contents cannot shift or fall.
Temperature management apples
An optimal temperature is mostly the first requirement to maintain a good quality of horticultural produce after harvest. Refrigeration is an effective method of preserving the quality of apples. Cooler temperatures extend the storage life by, among other things, reducing respiration, water loss, colour change, and decay. The apples should however not be stored below their critical temperature. This would result in risks on various quality problems such as weakened tissue leading to discoloration and increased risk of decay. The optimum temperature varies per commodity and cultivar and should be controlled throughout the whole fresh supply chain.
Apple disorders and diseases
Good quality products are free from diseases and disorders! Customers will not buy apples with rots or with damaged skin. But also fruit that looks good on the outside but is brown or soft inside will not lead to happy customers. There are dozens of different diseases and disorders and these are not always easy to recognize. However, a good diagnosis is important. By recognizing the symptoms of a disease or disorder, it can be linked to the cause. If you know the cause, you know what measures can be taken to prevent the disease or disorder in the future.
Research insights for postharvest management of apples
In our applied research, we study postharvest management of apples. On this page, some results from our research are indicated.