In this research, the physiological transformations of 'Isabella' (Vitis labrusca L) grapes aí different storage conditions were examined. The grapes were stored at 25°C (nonchilled) and 4°C (chilled) crnd maintained m a desiccator with vacuum (-60kPa) appiicatíon at lhe beginning of the storage process and without vacuum appiicatíon. The metabolites produced were quantitativety determined by gas-liquid chromatography and statistically analysed using a completely randomized design with two repetitions. The chilling storage reduced the production of both ethanol and methanol. The ethyl acetato formation did not depena on the individual effects of vacuum and temperature but is affected by the interaction ofthese two factors. The ethanol production was increased by vacuum at room temperature and by the interaction temperature-vacuum. The chilling storage diminished the amount of damaged berries and the vacuum had an opposite effect. The results obtained with the cultivar Isabella suggest that the procedure of appiying vacuum at the beginning ofthe grape storage process may induce physical damage even ai chilling storage. The correlation studies show that the deterioration of stored Isabella table grapes can be readily monitored byfollowing the methanol, ethanol and ethanal production.
ethanol; methanol; ethanal; ethyl acetate
