North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>]

But those soluble compounds lower the temperature at which the water will
freeze.  It's not that a fruit with dissolved sugars will survive freezing
any better than other fruits, but that it takes a lower temperature to
freeze it.  

~ Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Kieran &/or Donna
Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 8:10 AM
To: North American Fruit Explorers
Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Picking apples

I've got to say that I'm amazed an apple can partially freeze without
damage. Do you know why that is, Doug? Usually, freezing breaks the cell
walls in fruit, right? So that's why they get mushy when thawed? But
that doesn't happen with apples?


Bill,   It's all in the brix level.  That's why orange trees comfortably 
take freezing temps down to about 25F, and why oranges are so much sweeter 
after a cold snap.  The tree puts more sugar in the fruit, or changes 
starches to sugars.  That's probably why hanging apples can lower the freeze

hardiness of the tree.   Stressed orange trees cannot handle low temps as 
well.  Presumably one could test the brix of their leaves and see it coming.

Donna 

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