USING A MODIFIED-ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING APPROACH TO ANSWER SOME POST-HARVEST QUESTIONS: FACTORS INFLUENCING THE LOWER OXYGEN LIMIT

Modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a technique that has been used to extend the shelf life of a number of commodities.
However, the technique also has the potential to be used as a tool for conveniently answering some questions concerning the post-harvest physiology of fruits and vegetables.
We have used an MAP approach to determine cultivar, temperature, and CO₂ effects on the lower O₂ tolerance of various commodities including apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) and blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) fruit.
The lower O₂ limit for apple fruit was found to be cultivar-dependent, ranging from a low of approximately 0.8 kPa for ‘Northern Spy’ and ‘Law Rome’ to a high of approximately 2.0 kPa for ‘McIntosh’. For blueberry fruit, the lower O₂ limit increased with temperature and CO₂ partial pressure.
Raising the temperature from 0 to 25°C caused the lower O₂ limit to increase from approximately 1.8 to approximately 4 kPa.
Raising the CO₂ levels from 5 to 60 kPa increased the lower O₂ limit for blueberry fruit from approximately 4.5 to > 16 kPa.

International Symposium on Pre- and Postharvest Physiology of Pome-fruit

R. M. Beaudry, C. D. Gran

controlled atmosphere, fermentation, respiratory quotient, anaerobiosis, apple, Malus domestica Borkh., blueberry, Vaccinium corymbosum L.

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1993.326.21