Studies on the Storage of Grapes

Abstract

About the practical storage method for fruits, there are a few reports for apple and mandarin orange, but for other fruits, we only know some reports which give us a suggestion.Then we studied to know the best conditions of storage of grapes, which may be more frequently used in our country.In our experiment, we arranged five stages of humidity: 100%, 94%, 87%, 81%, and 76%; for temperature: 4°, 10°, and 15°.The test items in these storage periods were as follows: Apparent alternations of qualities with the naked eye, correlation between hardness and weight of fruit, fluctuation of moisture, acidity, sugar density and transition of pH of fruit juice. Furthermore, we tested the fungi, which cause the fruit rot. The results from these tests are summarized as follows:1) When humidity is less than 81%, the wiltings appear on the fruit stalk and granules, more than 94%, the fallings of fruit granules are observed, therefore the best degree of humidity is 87%.2) In the temperature, the result obtained at 4° was the best.It is recognized that if the storage of grapes are controled with the best conditions mentioned above, the ingredients of grapes almost do not change, and the storage for longer period is possible.