This research was carried out to evaluate the tolerance of 'Gala' apples to low temperatures in different periods during storage. The treatments were the temperature of 0°C (standard); -0.8°C and -1.6°C, during 4 months in cold storage and during 8 months in CA storage at 1,0kPa of O2 + 2,0kPa of CO2, and combinations of these temperatures with different times in the beginning or in the end of the storage period. Observing the results, the temperatures of 0°C e -0.8°C showed better quality than in -1.6oC after 4 months of cold storage. AC fruit quality was higher in 0°C when compared with -0.8°C and -1.6°C. The temperatures of -1.6°C for cold storage and of -0.8°C and -1.6°C for controlled atmosphere storage, when used in the beginning of storage period were more damaging to quality than in the end of storage, causing mainly internal breakdown, injury of peel and decay.
physiological disorder; controlled atmosphere; cold storage
