Were carried out two experiments with the objective to evaluate the effect of temperature and O2 partial pressure during controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on the quality of 'Fuji' apples affected with water core. In the first experiment the O2 partial pressures were 0,8; 1,1 and 1,6kPa, combined with <0,5kPa CO2, at temperature of 0,5ºC. In the second experiment cold storage and CA (1,1kPa O2 <0,5kPa CO2) were combined with two temperatures: -0,5ºC and 0,5ºC. RH in both trials was around 96%. After 7 months storage plus 7 days at 20ºC, in the first experiment, the reduction of partial pressure reduced the degradation of acids, increased flesh breakdown incidence and maintained the green color of the peel. At the openning of the chambers, rot incidence increased with the reduction of O2 partial pressure. In the second experiment, the use of CA maintained higher firmness, titratable acidity and the green color of the skin at the opening of the chambers. Flesh breakdown and rot incidence were lower in CA and the temperature of -0,5ºC also reduced flesh breakdown incidence in relation to 0,5ºC. Brown heart incidence was higher in CA.
storage; water core; controlled atmosphere; flesh breakdown; brown heart
