The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of O2 and CO2 partial pressures (1.0 kPa+2.5 kPa; 1.0 kPa+2.0 kPa; 0.8 kPa+2.0 kPa; 0.8 kPa+2.5 kPa and 20.8 kPa+0.03 kPa, respectively) in apples `Gala´ (Malus domestica Baumg.) stored by 8 months in controlled atmosphere (CA) on the juiciness loss, flesh firmness, soluble pectin content (SPC) and activities of pectinmethylesterase (PME) and polygalacturonase (PG). The storage temperature was 0.5°C and relative humidities around 96%. At the end of the CA period in and 7 more days at 20°C were evaluated the juiciness, flesh firmness, SPC, PME and PG. The partial pressures of 1.0 kPa O2 and 2.0 kPa CO2 or 0.8 kPa O2 and 2.0 kPa CO2 were more juicy after 8 months in CA; firmer apples were more juicy independent by of the concentration of the atmosphere.
Malus domestica; conservation; flesh firmness; quality