The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of temperature and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage conditions on the quality of 'Maciel' peaches harvested in two ripening stages. The treatments were: refrigerated air storage (RA) at +0.5°C; RA at -0.5°C; 2.0kPa O2 + 4.0kPa CO2 plus -0.5°C; 1.0kPa O2 + 3.0kPa CO2 plus -0.5°C; 2.0kPa O2 + 6.0kPa CO2 plus -0.5°C. Evaluations of fruit quality were carried out after two months of storage plus two and four days at 20°C. Fruits stored in 2.0kPa O2 + 4.0kPa CO2 at -0.5°C showed the highest firmness independent of ripening stage. The solid soluble content was higher at mature stage independent of storage conditions. Occurrence of decay and internal browning were not influenced by ripening stage. However, the CA storage at 1.0kPa O2 + 3.0kPa CO2 plus -0.5°C provided the small occurrence of decay and internal browning of flesh pulp. After four days at 20°C fruits at mature stage were completely rotten, independently of storage condition.
Prunus persica; yellow flesh pulp; storage; temperature; internal browning
