Combined effects of storage temperature variation and dynamic controlled atmosphere after long-term storage of ‘Maxi Gala’ apples

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of temperature variation strategies during the storage period using a dynamic controlled atmosphere based on respiratory quotient (DCA-RQ) on the physicochemical qualities of ‘Maxi Gala’ apples after 9 months of storage plus 7 and 14 days at 20 °C. The apples were stored in a controlled atmosphere with ultra low oxygen (CA/ULO), CA/ULO + 1-methylcyclopropene (1–MCP) at 0.5 °C, and DCA-RQ 1.3 at three constant temperatures of [1] 0.5, [2] 2.0, and [3] 3.0 °C and four variation temperatures of [1] (0.5 +3.0), [2] (0.5 +2.0), [3] (2.0 +3.0), and [4] (0.5 +2.0 + 3.0) °C. After 9 months of storage plus 14 days at 20 °C, fruit stored in DCA-RQ, regardless of the temperature, maintained the lowest incidence of flesh breakdown and highest healthy fruit percentages in relation to conventional CA/ULO with and without 1-MCP application. However, after 7 days of shelf life, storage in CA/ULO and DCA-RQ 1.3 at 2.0 and 3.0 °C resulted in higher percentage of healthy fruit. At this evaluation time,1-MCP treatment in fruit stored under CA/ULO increased flesh breakdown and decay. Flesh firmness was higher in the fruit stored in DCA-RQ 1.3 at 0.5, 2.0, and (0.5 + 2.0) °C after 7 and 14 days at 20 °C. In conclusion, DCA-RQ 1.3 under a constant temperature of 2.0 °C or temperature increasing during storage keeps fruit with better quality than those stored in CA/ULO + 1-MCP treatment after 9 months of storage plus 7 and 14 days of shelf life.