A comparison of ethylene production, maturity and controlled atmosphere storage life of Gala, Fuji and Lady Williams apples (Malus domestica, Borkh.)
Jenny J. Jobling and W. B. McGlasson
Postharvest Biology and Technology Vol: 6 Issue: 3-4 Pages: 209-218
1995
บทคัดย่อ
Gala and Lady Williams apples have distinct climacteric patterns of ethylene production but ethylene production remains low during ripening of Fuji apples. The Induced Ethylene Climacteric (IEC) method was found to accurately predict optimum harvest maturity for long-term CA storage of Gala apples. Alternative maturity induces are reported for Fuji and Lady Williams apples.
Samples of the apple cultivars Gala, Fuji and Lady Williams were picked over a three week period around the commercial harvest time for each cultivar in the Harcourt area (Victoria, Australia). The fruit were stored under controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions (1.5% O2 at 0-1°C). Samples were removed for analysis at 0, 3 or 4, 5, 7 and 9 months. Ethylene production rates were measured at harvest, and internal ethylene levels after various storage intervals. Firmness was assessed at harvest and after 7 and 9 months of CA storage and 18 or 25 days at 20°C. Gala and Lady Williams cultivars showed climacteric ethylene patterns with ripening, but this was much less obvious with the cultivar Fuji. Gala apples maintained a higher level of firmness if put into CA storage in a preclimacteric state. For the other cultivars, edible quality after CA storage was much less affected by pick date. Consumer tests have suggested that Fuji and Lady Williams apples were improved by being harvested later than the presently used commercial harvest dates, and explanations for those findings are put forward.