The epidermal characteristics of fruit skin of some sweet cherry cultivars in relation to fruit cracking

Abstract

The epidermal characteristics of fruit skin of 8 sweet cherry cultivars were determined in terms of susceptibility to cracking. The cultivars 0900 Ziraat and Bella di Pistoia having the thickest cuticle, had the lowest cracking index. There was a negative correlation between the Cuticle thickness and fruit cracking. There were no correlations relationship between fruit cracking and thickness of epidermis, thickness of subepidermis and number of subepidermal cell layers.