PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE ON ‘FIESTA RED’ NECTARINES

Fiesta Red nectarines harvested at two stages of maturity were stored at 0°C in atmospheres containing 0, 5, 10 and 20% CO₂ at 3% or 15% O₂, and in air.
Fruit was examined after 4, 6 and 8 weeks upon removal from storage and following 5 days at 20°C. Tests included quality and maturity assessment, rates of respiration and ethylene evolution, and membrane permeability.
The chilling injury symptoms, woolly breakdown and reddening, were more prevalent in fruit of the second harvest, but at both stages of maturity, high CO₂ reduced the incidence of these disorders.
The most effective CO₂ level was, however, different for each stage of maturity.
Though the higher O₂ level tended to enhance the improved fruit quality, the effect was not always statistically significant.

International Symposium on Quality of Fruit and Vegetables: Influence of Pre- and Post- Harvest Factors and Technology

A. Levin, S. Lurie, Y. Zutkhi, R. Ben-Arie

Prunus persica, woolly breakdown, maturity, ethylene, respiration, membrane permeability

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1995.379.12