Two trials were carried out from 1989 to 1994 to evaluate the effect of temperature on the ripening and the effect of harvest date on the fruit quality traits and storage life of kiwifruit. In the ...first, the daily increase of soluble solids in the week before harvest was 0.02-0.03 deg Brix/day when the daily average temperature was higher than 15 deg C, and 0.2 deg Brix/day when the temperature dropped to 8 deg C. The second experiment showed that the harvest index (soluble solids) should be at least 6.2-6.5 deg Brix to begin harvest, although quality was higher in fruits harvested at 7.5 and 9.5 deg Brix, because they evinced lower weight loss, higher flesh firmness and lower acid degradation. Panel-rated taste was better in fruits harvested in mid-November. It was also found that too late a harvest can enhance fruit softening (less than 5-6 kg) to the detriment of storage life and quality
