SHORT-TERM CONTROLLED-ATMOSPHERE STORAGE IMPROVED QUALITY OF SEVERAL APPLE CULTIVARS

Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage for 30 or 60 days reduced quality losses for 'Jonagold', 'Golden Delicious', 'Delicious', 'Granny Smith', and 'Fuji' apples (Malus domestica Borkh.). After 30 days 'Jonagold' and 'Golden Delicious' from CA were firmer, had higher acidity, and were less yellow (more green) than apples from regular atmosphere (RA) storage. 'Delicious' and 'Granny Smith' were firmer after 60 days of CA storage than fruit from RA. In addition, 'Granny Smith' from CA had more acid and were greener than apples from RA. After 8 days of ambient storage, little loss in firmness and no loss in acid content occurred with 'Jonagold' or 'Golden Delicious' from CA compared to the significant loss in firmness and acid when stored in RA. After ambient storage for 8 days, 'Jonagold', 'Golden Delicious', and' Granny Smith' retained a freshly harvested apple color with more green and less yellow development when stored in CA rather than RA. In 'Fuji', the treatments had no effect except for improved acid retention if stored in CA. A combination of 30 days CA followed by 30 days RA produced 'Jonagold', 'Golden Delicious', and 'Delicious' that were superior in quality to apples from 60 days RA.