The aim of this research was to evaluate conditions to maintain postharvest quality of 'Crioula' onions. Three experiments were done, evaluating the effect of temperature, relative humidity (RH) and controlled atmosphere (CA): different temperatures: [1] -0.5°C, [2] 0.5°C, [3] 2°C, [4] 4°C, [5] 6°C and [6] 10°C. Levels of RH: [1] 70%, [2] 80% and [3] 90%; and different CA conditions: [1] 21kPa O2+0.03kPa CO2, [2] 0.5kPa O2+0kPa CO2, [3] 1.0kPa O2+0kPa CO2, [4] 2.0kPa O2+0kPa CO2, [5] 1.0kPa O2+2.0kPa CO2 and [6] O2 1.0kPa+4.0kPa CO2. The experimental design was completely randomized. Ripening and quality evaluations were carried out after six months of storage more fifteen days at 20°C. The sprout and rot were inhibited at a temperature of 0.5°C, unlike the equal and temperatures above 4°C, in which more than 90% of the bulbs have sprouted. The RH of 70 and 80% were better, because there was less shooting. The low oxygen controlled the sprouting of bulbs, providing a major number of marketable bulbs after six months in CA and also after 15 days at 20°C.
Allium cepa L; temperature; relative humidity; controlled atmosphere
