Effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) levels on quality of 'Palmer' mangoes under controlled atmosphere storage.

Abstract

With the objective to evaluate the modifications in the fruit quality, 'Palmer' mangoes were stored at 12.8°C for 30days in controlled atmosphere storage that contained a low level of oxygen (5kPa) which was associated with increasing levels of carbon dioxide CO2 (0, 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20kPa CO2). Controlled atmosphere storage did not effect mango respiration. However, transfer mangoes, that were previously stored at high levels of CO2 (5kPa O2+15kPa CO2 and 5kPa O2+20kPa CO2) to ambient temperature presented higher respiratory rates. No significant effects of increasing CO2 levels on color (L*, chromaticity, and hue angle), firmness, physical-chemical parameter and carbohydrate metabolism (total and reducing sugars, soluble pectin) were observed. After transfer to ambient temperature the mangoes ripened normally without any signs of CO2 injury. Therefore, the increment levels of CO2 neither improved the quality of the 'Palmer' mangoes nor presented a synergistic effect with low-oxygen when compared to 5kPa O2-control.