Mechanical Shaking and Baling of Balsam Fir Trees Influence Postharvest Needle Senescence and Abscission

Abstract

This study investigated the influence of both shaking duration and number of trees per bale on postharvest needle characteristics such as percentage needle loss, needle retention duration and explored the physiological roles of endogenous ethylene and volatile terpene compounds (VTCs). To accomplish these objectives, 25 six-year - old trees were detached and exposed to a range of shaking durations (0 to 60 sec.), and 30 six-year - old detached trees were exposed to baling treatments from 0 to 5 trees. Response variables measured were percent needle loss, needle retention duration, average water use, ethylene and volatile terpene compound evolution. Trees shaken for 60 seconds lost 16% less needle compared to control, which was consistent with the decrease in percent needle loss with increasing shaking duration. Baled trees lost 13% more needles compared to control, but percent needle loss was observed to decrease with increasing number of trees in a bale. These trends corresponded with increasing ethylene and VTC evolutions, where the longer the shaking duration or larger number of trees in a bale, the higher the ethylene and VTC evolutions. One can therefore draw inference that mechanical perturbation as a result of shaking and baling induce biosynthesis and regulation of ethylene and VTC in balsam fir trees in an effort to regulate postharvest needle abscission.