Evaluation of the Effect of Different Harvest Time on the Fruit Quality of FoAYa Nut

Abstract

This study was carried out in Arsin (Trabzon/Turkey) in 2011. The effects of different harvest time and altitudes on the quality of the nuts have been investigated. The study was performed on FoAYa hazelnut and the harvest process has been conducted at three terms, which are on normal harvest time and ten days before and after harvest time. The harvested nuts were dried in the shade on the concrete floor until their moisture content decreased to 5 %. Some properties of nuts including yield, fruit weight, internal weight, shell thickness, and protein, oleic, and linoleic acid amounts have been investigated. As evaluated all of the fruit properties it can be concluded that 11 August is the most suitable harvest date for coast zone. On the other hand, no significant differences were obtained in the point of protein, oleic, and linoleic acid amounts for different harvest time and altitudes.