Comprehensive Evaluation of Storage Performance of the Yellow-Fleshed ‘Jinyan’ Kiwifruit Harvested at Different Maturities

‘Jinyan’ is an interspecific hybrid kiwifruit (Actinidia eriantha × A. chinensis). It is a large, yellow-fleshed fruit with good taste and long storage potential. It is commonly referenced that storage potential is linked to the harvest maturity of the fruit and the subsequent temperature management. Hence, the findings from research covering the maturation, storage temperatures, ripening, and quality of ‘Jinyan’ fruit from the same orchard across three seasons have been evaluated with an overall objective of defining harvest and storage criteria for ‘Jinyan’ fruit. Good postharvest performance includes fruit not becoming too soft too soon in storage and retaining firmness at shelf temperatures. It was confirmed that harvest maturity is critical to the good storage performance of ‘Jinyan’ kiwifruit. Harvest time significantly affected fruit softening during cold storage, and treatment with the ethylene action inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene slightly delayed fruit softening. Harvesting much before 180 days after full bloom, or at <9% soluble solids content (SSC), resulted in high incidences of chilling injury (41.8–52.0% after 24 weeks of cold storage at 1 °C + 7 d at 20 °C). These chill-damaged, early-harvested fruits also had a high incidence of rot. Leaving the fruit on the vine much after this threshold reduced chilling injury, but increased the risk of rot on otherwise sound fruit (total rot incidence ranging from 25.9% to 89.0% depending on maturity at harvest). As well as chilling risk, early-harvested fruit may reduce the consumer’s liking of the fruit because of a reduced ripe fruit SSC (rSSC). Consumer liking may also be reduced for long-stored fruit in years of low fruit dry matter content. The impact of low rSSC on consumer liking and the presence of any threshold values requires confirmation. These findings define a clear indication of when fruit should be harvested for long storage, whilst minimizing the risk of disorders.