Research Area : Pomology

A fruit contains various taste active compounds, such as sugars, organic acids, amino acids, polyphenols, and aromas. We have been studying to clarify the effects of juice constituents on the fruit taste and developing quantitative evaluation system for fruit taste.

Gibberellic acid (GA3) is widely used in the production seedless grape in Japan. We have been studying to clarify the mechanism involved in seedlessness of gibberellic acid treated grapes.

We are trying to clarify physiological aspects and mechanisms of various problems or improved points in high quality fruit production and to develop their solution.

Stability of fruit size and Soluble solid content (SSC) level is important in high quality peach fruit production. Also, severe flesh disorder causes economic loss. We found that “the fruit from early timing of flowering” shows worst qualities and the severe flesh disorder symptom within a tree awe to inferior accumulation of mineral nutrition and assimilates during the latter half of fruit development. These results are utilized to improve the skill thinned flowers or fruit.

To accomplish the stable fruit production, removal of abnormal fruit in orchard during immature stage and information of optimal harvesting was needed. Therefore, it is important to develop nondestructive method which can be utilized on the tree. By using an acoustic vibration measurement, split-pit occurrence could be detected from the ratio of resonant frequencies (f3 / f2), and progress of fruit maturity (decrease in flesh firmness) could be associated with the decline of f3 value measured without removal of fruit bag.