The Effect of Conditions of Storage on the Respiration of Apples

Abstract

SummaryThe production of carbon dioxide and uptake of oxygen by several varieties of apples have been studied over long periods, at temperatures from 32° to 54° F. (0-12·2° C.), in air and in several mixtures of carbon dioxide, oxygen and nitrogen.It has been shown that, in sound apples, the mean rate of respiration varies directly with temperature and that the mean percentage increase, for a rise in temperature from 38° to 45° F. (3·3-7·2° C.), is 40% for CO2 output and 60% for oxygen uptake, for apples in air.In apples which are susceptible to low temperature injury, the rates of CO2 output and oxygen uptake, at temperatures below 38° F., increase with time and with onset of injury. The rates fall again when injury becomes severe. This abnormal type of respiration is less affected by concentration of oxygen than is the normal type, but it is not anaerobic.The course of respiratory activity of apples under controlled-atmosphere storage is similar for all varieties which have been tested, and yields no in...