EFFECT OF FRUIT MATURITY ON THE SUCCESS OF CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE OF ‘FANTASIA’ NECTARINES

Abstract

A range of controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions were applied to 'Fantasia' nectarines harvested at local and export market maturity standards. Ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) production at harvest showed that both grades of fruit were starting the climacteric, but that the local market fruit were further advanced. These fruit were cool stored at 0°C under air or CA conditions for 4 or 6 weeks. After 4 weeks, fruit of both maturities stored in air lacked flavour, were softer and developed a mealy texture during shelf life compared to fruit stored under 2% oxygen (O 2 ) plus either 5 or 10% carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), or under air plus 10, 15 or 20% CO 2 . The CA-stored fruit were juicy, and developed a good flavour. C 2 H 4 production of air-stored fruit during a shelf life period suggest that the fruit were ripening abnormally. Fruit stored under CA retained the capability to produce C 2 H 4 after coolstorage, although the more mature local market fruit were showing signs of senescence after 4 and 6 weeks storage. Previously unpublished work is presented showing that these disorders were accompanied by a reduction in activity of the enzymes endo and exopolygalacturonase. Results suggest that for optimum storage life, nectarines should be placed into CA storage near the onset of the C 2 H 4 climacteric.