Characterization of Postharvest Changes in Fruit Quality Traits of Highbush Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) Cultivars

This study investigated the dynamic changes in fruit color, texture and quality attributes of blueberry cultivars during a 15-day postharvest storage period to provide theoretical insights for cultivar selection, postharvest preservation and commercial evaluation. Phenotypic and quality traits, including color parameters (CIE-Lab*), texture attributes (Note: hardness represents firmness and is an indicator in the Brookfield’s texture analyzer), adhesive force and physicochemical indices, were systematically analyzed using a colorimeter, texture analyzer and conventional methods. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were applied to evaluate postharvest performance. Southern highbush cultivars, including ‘EB 9-2’, ‘Meadowlark’, ‘Primadonna’, ‘Eureka’ and ‘Camellia’, exhibited superior comprehensive quality, characterized by small fruit shape index, minimal scar sizes and stable hardness dynamics. During the storage period, ‘Legacy’ demonstrated optimal color stability (ΔE < 3.5 from days 0–15), while ‘EB 9-2’ showed the most significant hardness increase. Scar size, fruit shape index and flesh elasticity were identified as key indicators for analyzing shelf-life hardness variations, offering scientific guidance for cultivar selection and postharvest management.