Aplicação de 1-metilciclopropeno, estresse inicial com baixo oxigênio e armazenamento em ultrabaixo oxigênio na qualidade de maçã Fuji Application of 1-methylcyclopropene, initial low oxygen stress and storage in ultralow oxygen on Fuji apples quality

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da aplicação de 1-MCP em combinação com condições de estresse inicial com baixo O2 e armazenamento em atmosfera controlada com pressões parciais ultrabaixas de O2 sobre a manutenção da qualidade de maçãs Fuji. Os tratamentos avaliados foram com e sem aplicação de 1-MCP (1.000nL L-1), combinado com cinco níveis do fator condição de armazenamento (sem estresse inicial + 0,6kPa O2, 1 estresse + 0,6kPa O2, 1 estresse + 0,8kPa O2, 2 estresses + 0,6kPa O2 e sem estresse inicial + 1,0kPa O2). Cada estresse inicial foi com 0,2kPa de O2 pelo período de 14 dias. Os frutos foram armazenados nessas condições durante oito meses a -0,5°C±0,2°C e UR de 96±1%, mais sete dias de exposição a 20±1°C. Em todos os tratamentos, o CO2 foi mantido abaixo de 0,5kPa. O armazenamento sem estresse inicial por baixo O2 associado a 1,0kPa ou 0,6kPa de O2 manteve a polpa mais firme e com maior acidez titulável. Além disso, proporcionou menor ocorrência de podridão após oito meses de armazenamento mais sete dias a 20°C. O 1-MCP proporcionou menor atividade da enzima ACC oxidase, no entanto, não foi eficiente para a redução da produção de etileno e para retardar a perda da firmeza e a ocorrência de podridão. O estresse inicial de 14 dias com 0,2kPa de O2 prejudicou a conservação de maçãs Fuji.<br>The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of 1-MCP application in combination with initial low oxygen stress and storage in controlled atmosphere with ultra-low oxygen on Fuji apple quality preservation. The evaluated treatments consisted of 1-MCP application (with or without 1000nL L-1) combined with five levels of the factor storage condition (without initial stress + 0.6kPa O2, 1 stress + 0.6kPa O2, 1 stress + 0.8kPa O2, 2 stresses + 0.6kPa O2 and without initial stress + 1.0kPa O2). Initial low oxygen stress was applied by 14 days at 0.2kPa O2. The fruits were stored in these conditions for eight months at -0.5±0.2°C and relative humidity of 96±1%, followed by seven days at 20±1°C. In all treatments, the CO2 was kept below 0.5kPa. The storage without initial low oxygen stress associated with 1.0kPa or 0.6kPa O2 maintained the pulp firmer and with the higher titratable acidity, moreover provided a lower incidence of decay after storage during eight months and shelf life at 20°C. The 1-MCP provided lower activity of ACC oxidase enzyme, however, did not reduces ethylene production and failed to delay the loss of firmness and the control decay. Initial stress of 14 days with 0.2kPa O2 reduced the conservation of Fuji apples

Respiratory quotient: innovative method for monitoring ‘Royal Gala’ apple storage in a dynamic controlled atmosphere

Apples (Malus domestica, Borkh.) which are not stored at low temperature or in a properly controlled atmosphere (CA) may have a high metabolic rate during the postharvest stage resulting in losses in quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of ‘Royal Gala’ apple fruit stored in accordance with a new method of dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA).The respiratory quotient (RQ) was monitored at two temperatures which were then compared using a commercially available technology based on chlorophyll fluorescence DCA (DCA-CF) and static CA. Ethylene production and respiration rates were lower in apples stored in DCA than in CA, as a result of lower 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase activity, especially in apples stored in DCA-RQ2. Flesh firmness of apples stored in DCA did not differ from those stored in CA. Apples stored at 1 °C had less flesh breakdown occurrence and a high percentage of healthy fruit. ‘Royal Gala’ stored at DCA-RQ2 had less flesh breakdown than apples stored in CA; however, the apples stored in DCA-CF did not differ from those stored in DCA-RQ2 and CA. Apples stored at the highest RQ value (6 and 4), especially at 0.5 °C, had low O2 injury occurrence after storage. However the increase in temperature to 1.0 °C, reduced the occurrence of this disorder. Therefore, storage in DCA-RQ2 at 1 °C or DCA-CF at 0.5 °C are the recommendations of preference for ensuring maintenance of quality in ‘Royal Gala’ apples after eight months of storage