The experiment was carried out with the objective to evaluate the effect of variation of the temperature and relative humidity (RH) during storage period and the rate of establishment of controlled atmosphere conditions on the quality of ‘Fuji’ apples. After cooling down during 11 days (12°C to storage temperature), the fruits were stored in controlled atmosphere (CA) with 1kPa O2 and 0,2kPa CO2. The evaluated treatments were combinations of initial temperatures (0.5°C and 2.5°C), initial RH (91 and 96%) during the first 40 storage days and pull down of oxygen in the CA store (first or fourth day after CA chamber closing). Afterward the fruits were maintened at 0.5°C with 96% RH. After eight months storage treatments did not influence flesh firmness, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, rot and breakdown incidence. During shelf-life, TSS were lower when CA conditions was established on the first day. Low RH during first 40 storage days did not reduce rot incidence. On the other hand, higher initial temperature (2,5°C) was efficient on rot control.
Fuji’ apples; Relative humidity; temperature; controlled atmosphere
