V. A. Gudkovskii, L. V. Kozhina, Yu. B. Nazarov, A. V. Sutormina
Michurin Federal Scientific Center, ul. Michurina, 30, Michurinsk, Tambovskaya obl., 393774, Russian Federation
Abstract. The research aimed to study the effect of storage technologies with different oxygen content in the atmosphere on the quality of fruits during storage and delivery. The work was performed in 2020–2021 on sun-susceptible Granny Smith apples. Control (non-treated) fruits and fruits treated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) were stored under normal atmosphere (NA, O2 – 21%, CO2 – 0.03%), controlled atmosphere with ultra-low oxygen content (ULO, O2 – 0.8%, CO2 – 0.8%), and dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA, O2 – 0.4%, CO2 – 0.8%). We determined the content of ethylene, alfa-farnesene, and its oxidation products, i.e. conjugated trienes (CT281), and assessed losses from physiological diseases and fruit qualities (hardness and colour). A high oxygen level in NA stimulated the accumulation of ethylene, alfa-farnesene, and CТ281 in fruits, while a low oxygen level (ULO, DCA) inhibited this process. Under NA conditions, scald losses were observed (up to 30%) after two months of storage and delivery; ULO and DCA conditions slowed down the appearance of scald and bitter pit contributing to preserving high hardness during storage and delivery (more than 8 kg/cm2) for 9 months or more. Under NA conditions, treatment with 1-MCP inhibited the accumulation of ethylene, alfa-farnesene, and KT281 and ensured the preservation of higher hardness throughout the entire post-harvest period, compared with the control. Browning of the core and yellowing of fruits (loss of colour) is possible after 4.5 months of storage and more. Under conditions of ULO and DCA, the treatment of fruits with 1-MCP ineffectively inhibited the synthesis of the studied compounds, increased CO2 burns (up to 1.1% and 4%, respectively) and did not affect hardness preservation; seven-month storage provided better colour preservation compared to control lots.
Keywords: apple fruits; storage conditions; 1-methylcyclopropene; sunburn; alfa-farnesene; ethylene; hardness; colour.
Author Details: V. A. Gudkovskii, D. Sc. (Agr.), member of the RAS, head of division (e-mail: Этот адрес электронной почты защищён от спам-ботов. У вас должен быть включен JavaScript для просмотра.); L. V. Kozhina, Cand. Sc. (Agr.), leading research fellow; Yu. B. Nazarov, Cand. Sc. (Agr.), senior research fellow; A. V. Sutormina, Cand. Sc. (Agr.), research fellow.
For citation: Gudkovskii VA, Kozhina LV, Nazarov YuB, et al. [Influence of oxygen concentration on the quality and storage duration of apple fruits of Granny Smith variety]. Dostizheniya nauki i tekhniki APK. 2022;36(1):57-62. Russian. doi: 10.53859/02352451_2022_36_1_57.