Prediction of moisture loss across the cuticle of apple (Malus sylvestris subsp. mitis (Wallr.)) during storage: part 2. Model simulations and practical applications

Abstract

The microscopic cuticle model to describe moisture loss through the apple cuticle, which was developed in Veraverbeke et al. [Postharvest Biol. Technol. (2003b)], was applied to simulate moisture loss of different apple cultivars in realistic storage situations. The moisture loss calculated from the original microscopic cuticle model was, therefore, integrated over a whole apple with an average apple radius to obtain a macroscopic moisture loss model. The effect of the position of an apple in a pallet box during long-term storage was further simulated by introduction of specific surface boundary conditions. The predicted moisture loss with this macroscopic model for 6 months of storage at RH 97.5% was 4.1% for ‘Elstar’ and 3.5% for ‘Jonagold’ fruit, which agreed well with data obtained from practice. In addition, three practical case studies were simulated to describe the effect of different surface structures, relative humidity and, blocked lenticels on moisture loss of fruit in long-term storage.