Short-term Controlled Atmosphere Storage Improved Quality of Several Apple Cultivars

Abstract

Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage for 30 or 60 days reduced quality losses for `Jonagold', `Golden Delicious', `Delicious', `Granny Smith', and `Fuji' apples (Malus domestica Borkh.). After 30 days `Jonagold' and `Golden Delicious' from CA were firmer, had higher acidity, and were less yellow (more green) than apples from regular atmosphere (RA) storage. `Delicious' and `Granny Smith' were firmer after 60 days of CA storage than fruit from RA. In addition, `Granny Smith' from CA had more acid and were greener than apples from RA. After 8 days of ambient storage, little loss in firmness and no loss in acid content occurred with `Jonagold' or `Golden Delicious' from CA compared to the significant loss in firmness and acid when stored in RA. After ambient storage for 8 days, `Jonagold', `Golden Delicious', and `Granny Smith' retained a freshly harvested apple color with more green and less yellow development when stored in CA rather than RA. In `Fuji', the treatments had no effect except for improved acid retention if stored in CA. A combination of 30 days CA followed by 30 days RA produced `Jonagold', `Golden Delicious', and `Delicious' that were superior in quality to apples from 60 days RA.