EFFECTS OF PICKING DATE, DELAYED STORAGE, STORAGE TEMPERATURE, AND STORAGE ATMOSPHERE ON THE QUALITY OF STARRING DELICIOUS APPLES

The effects of picking date, storage atmosphere, storage temperature, and delayed storage on the behavior of Starking Delicious apples (Malus sylvestris Mill.) were studied over a 3-yr period. Regular cold storage, controlled atmosphere storages of 2% CO2 + 3% O2, and 0% CO3 + 3% O2, delayed storage of 48 h at 20 C prior to cold and controlled-atmosphere storage and temperatures of 0 and − 1 C were the treatments used. Temperature showed little or no effect on firmness, acidity, soluble solids, core browning, or flesh browning but controlled atmosphere treatments at − 1 C markedly reduced the incidence of scald compared with 0 C. Apples from the 2% CO2 + 3% O2 atmosphere had significantly more core browning than those from the 0% CO2 + 3% O2 atmosphere. The fruit picked later had less core browning than that picked 1 wk earlier when stored in the 2% CO2 + 3% O2 atmosphere. Fruit stored in a 2% CO2 + 3% O2 atmosphere was firmer than that in 0% CO2 + 3% O2.