Effects of skin coatings on the behaviour of apples in storage. IV. Comparisons of skin coatings and gas (controlled atmosphere) storage.

Abstract

The effects on apples of gas (controlled atmosphere) storage and of skin coatings in refrigerated storage have been compared using the varieties Jonathan, Delicious, and Granny Smith. With Jonathan gas storage prolonged storage life more than coatings. Although with Delicious, gas storage was somewhat better than coating, the gain by either method was small. With Granny Smith coatings were generally more successful than gas storage. This was due to better control of superficial scald and senescent scalds. Both gas storage and skin coatings prolonged storage life, primarily by increasing the carbon dioxide tension and decreasing the oxygen tension inside the apple. However, differing effects on the volatile products of metabolism, other than carbon dioxide, caused important differences in the behaviour of the fruit.