Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #131677
Title: SHORT-TERM CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE FOR STORAGE-LIFE EXTENSION OF WHITE-FLESHED PEACHES AND NECTARINES

Author
item Drake, Stephen
item ELFVING, DON - WSU, WENATCHEE, WA

Submitted to: Journal of Food Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2002
Publication Date: 6/1/2003
Citation: DRAKE, S.R., ELFVING, D. SHORT-TERM CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE STORAGE FOR STORAGE-LIFE EXTENSION OF WHITE-FLESHED PEACHES AND NECTARINES. JOURNAL OF FOOD QUALITY. 26 (2003) 135-147.

Interpretive Summary: Response of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines to controlled atmosphere storage is cultivar dependent. Specific cultivars, such as 'Snow Giant', 'White Lady', 'Snow King' and "arctic Queen' should not be considered for long storage (+30 days). In most instances these cultivars displayed excessive internal browning and poor flesh color after only 30 days of storage. While 'Sugar Lad' and 'Arctic Rose' performed better and are possible candidates for CA storage, they should not be stored more than 45 days after harvest. The value of CA storage to extend the marketing of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines is questionable a best. If CA storage is to be used for storage life extension of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines, O2 level should be maintained at 2% or less and CO2 level maintained at 12% or higher. Early-maturing cultivars of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines tended to be superior candidates for CA storage than later-maturing cultivars.

Technical Abstract: Response of white-fleshed peaches ('Sugar Lady', 'Snow Giant', 'White Lady' and 'Snow King') and nectarines ('Arctic Queen' and 'Arctic Rose') to controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage is cultivar dependent. Samples of fruit of these six cultivars were collected just prior to commercial harvest and held in either regular-atmosphere (RA) storage at 1 deg C or controlled-atmosphere (CA storage at 2 or 4% O2 and 6, 12, or 18% CO2 all at 1 deg C. Four of the 6 cultivars ('Snow Giant', 'White Lady', 'Snow King' and 'Arctic Queen') displayed excessive internal browning and poor flesh color after only 30 days of storage and should not be considered for long storage (+30 days). While 'Sugar Lady' and 'Arctic Rose' performed better and are possible candidates for CA storage, they should not be stored more than 45 days after harvest. The value of CA storage to extend the marketing of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines is questionable at best. If CA storage is to be used for storage- life extension of white-fleshed peaches and nectarines, O2 level should be maintained at 2% or less and CO2 level maintained at 12% or higher.