CANOPY POSITION INFLUENCES CIELAB COORDINATES OF PEACH COLOR

Differences in color development between exposed and shaded fruit during the growing season were determined for 'Loring' and 'Raritan Rose' peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch). The surface color of fruit exposed to sunlight in the upper canopy, and in the shade in the lower canopy, was measured with a tristimulus colorimeter, and L* a* b* values were recorded for each fruit from 17 July through harvest. Color changes (DELTAE(ab)*) during maturation for both cultivars at either canopy position were characterized by large changes in hue (DELTAH(ab)*) and lesser changes in lightness (DETLAL(ab)*) and chroma (DELTAC(ab)). Upper canopy fruit of both cultivars were redder and darker than the lower canopy fruit initially and at harvest. Flesh firmness for 'Loring' and 'Raritan Rose' tended to correlate with color change from initial sampling to harvest.