Ethylene in controlled atmosphere stores with cv. Fuji apples

Abstract

In order to verify if there is an effect of ethylene concentrations on cv. Fuji apples stored under controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions, two commercial CA facilities at Fraiburgo/Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, were monitored in the 1988 storage period. Air and fruit samples were taken during either 145 days or 172 days for analysis of ethylene concentration, fruit flesh firmness, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, decay, and physiological disorders. The highest ethylene concentration determined in the air sample was 427.6 ppm. Fruit flesh firmness did not show correlation with ethylene. Only titratable acidity of the apples stored for the longest period had significant correlation with ethylene concentration. Incidence of decay and physiological disorders were not induced by accumulated ethylene.