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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361542
Research Project: Developmental Genomics and Metabolomics Influencing Temperate Tree Fruit Quality

Location: Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research

Title: Apple fruit responses to controlled atmosphere established during postharvest temperature conditioning

Author
item Mattheis, James

Submitted to: HortScience
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2019
Publication Date: 9/1/2020
Citation: Mattheis, J.P. 2020. Apple fruit responses to controlled atmosphere established during postharvest temperature conditioning. HortScience. 54(9S):S129. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.54.9S.S1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.54.9S.S1

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Temperature management is a critical component of apple fruit postharvest systems. Cultivars differ in sensitivity to low temperature with development of some physiological disorders dependent on fruit temperature after harvest. A cooling protocol that holds fruit in air at an initial relatively high temperature (conditioning) followed by a lower final temperature can be an effective means to reduce physiological disorders for some cultivars. Temperature conditioning for disorder management is a strategy consistent with organic production but conditioning may limit storage duration due to excessive quality loss for conventional or organic fruit. Three cultivars, ‘Fuji’, ‘Gala’, and ‘Granny Smith’ with potential for fruit quality loss from delayed cooling in air were used to evaluate establishment of controlled atmosphere (CA) during temperature conditioning to impact physiological disorders while preventing excessive ripening. Results of a two-year study indicate some physiological disorders were impacted but quality was similar for conditioned fruit held in CA compared to fruit stored in CA at a lower temperature. The results indicate potential for postharvest management of these cultivars that maintains fruit quality while impacting physiological disorder development using existing technology compatible with organic production.