The management of fruit maturity at harvest and ethylene removal from the storage environment are important strategies for postharvest preservation of apple quality. This research was carried out to assess the combined effects of fruit maturity management at harvest achieved by preharvest spraying with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), and ethylene absorption with sachets containing pellets impregnated with potassium permanganate (KMnO4), on postharvest quality preservation of 'Gala' apples. Fruits from trees treated with different doses of AVG (0.0, 62.5, 125.0, and 250.0 mg L-1) were harvested at different dates (corresponding to 0, 5, 10 and 14 days after the beginning of commercial harvest), packed in standard carton boxes (18kg, lined with high density polyethylene film of 30µm) with or without the addition of one sachet of KMnO4, and cold stored for two months (at 0±0.5ºC/90-95% RH). Preharvest spraying with AVG delayed fruit maturity at harvest and its ripening assessed after removal from cold storage, as well as after one week storage at ambient condition (20±4ºC/70-80% RH). The use of one sachet of KMnO4 delayed fruit ripening assessed after removal from cold storage, resulting in higher values of firmness and hº on the green side (shaded side, less exposed to sun) in early harvested fruit treated at preharvest with AVG at the doses of 125-250 mg L-1. However, after one week storage at ambient condition, one sachet of KMnO4substantially delayed ripening of late harvested fruit treated at preharvest with AVG at doses >62.5 mg L-1. The results show that preharvest spraying with AVG allow delays in fruit harvesting, but this might be accompanied by the use of one sachet of KMnO4 during cold stored for a better postharvest quality preservation of 'Gala' apples.
Malus domestica; maturity; harvest date; potassium permanganate; storage; fruit quality
