The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of relative humidities (RH) (96 and 90%), in apples ‘Gala’ 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. At the end of the CA period and seven more days at 20°C were evaluated the juiciness, flesh firmness, SPC, PME and PG. RH of 96 to 90%, did not affect the juiciness, firmness, SPC and PME activity, but 90% of RH increased PG activity, after 8 months in AC and 7 more days at 20°C.
Malus domestica; storage; postharvest