Abstract: To evaluate the effect of tree-hanging pre-storage on the postharvest storability and cold sensitivity of kiwifruits, pre-stored ‘Xuxiang’ kiwifruits (Actinidia deliciosa) with different tree-hanging times were harvested and cold stored on the same day. Normal fruits stored under the same conditions as above were taken as the control group. The results showed that tree-hanging pre-storage reduced the hardness and starch content of kiwifruits at harvest, and resulted in earlier appearance of the respiratory and ethylene peaks, but reduced the respiratory peak. Tree-hanging pre-storage could improve the content of soluble solids in freshly harvested fruits, significantly reduce the content of titratable acids during storage as well as mass loss at the end of storage (P < 0.05), and shortened the shelf life to varying degrees, and the effect was more significant with increasing tree-hanging time. Fruits pre-stored for one week showed higher pulp L* value over the storage period, VC content at the end of storage, and sensory evaluation scores than any other treatment group and was not significantly different from the control group. Moreover, this group exhibited the longest shelf life, lowest chilling injury rate at the end of storage, and the highest catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. Therefore, tree-hanging pre-storage for one week can effectively maintain the storability and quality and reduce the cold sensitivity of kiwifruits, helping to alleviate the stress of coincidence between harvest and putting on the market.

Key words: ‘Xuxiang’ kiwifruit; tree-hanging pre-storage; post-harvest quality; chilling injury