Methods and fruit quality and ripening parameters for prediction of flesh browning in apples under controlled atmosphere storage

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico The objectives of this work was to estimate the potential of flesh browning development in Gala , Royal Gala , Fuji e Braeburn apples after controlled atmosphere storage (CA). This study was realized through correlation of predictive methods and fruit quality and ripening parameters with the flesh browning occurrence after CA storage. Experiments were carried out with fruits from different orchards and years. In 2004, a first experiment was carried out with Fuji apples from three orchards. In 2005, Gala , Royal Gala , Fuji and Braeburn apples were evaluated from 11 orchards using two picking dates. Theses experiments were carried out at the Núcleo de Pesquisa em Pós-colheita of Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, Brazil with fruits from Vacaria, RS, Brazil. In 2006 to 2007 experiments were carried out in Germany using Braeburn apples from seven orchards. These methods the disorder occurrence after six months CA storage was correlated with the predictive methods, and with quality and ripening parameters. The predictive methods evaluated were: Mg infiltration, maturity acceleration with ethephon, and stress induction with high CO2. It was also evaluated the capacity of chlorophyll-fluorescence to detect possible stress occurrence on fruits exposed to high CO2 concentrations. Results show that in Fuji fruit juice percentage were able to predict flesh browning, but only in high CO2 (2.0 kPa) CA condition, while TSS level has been able to predict the occurrence of this disorder in fruits stored in low CO2 (