Disorders in `Cortland' Apple Fruit Are Induced by Storage at 0 °C in Controlled Atmosphere

The effects of low temperature in controlled-atmosphere storage on five strains of 'Cortland' apples (Malus x domestica Borkh.) grown in Nova Scotia were investigated. The apples were held in either standard controlled-atmosphere (2.5 kPa O 2 and 4.5 kPa CO 2 ) or low-oxygen (1.5 kPa O 2 and 1.5 kPa CO 2 ) storage at 0 or 3 °C for 4 and 8 months. The results indicated that 'Cortland' apples are sensitive to low temperature, but not to low oxygen or high CO 2 Low temperature (0 vs. 3 °C) caused an increase in low-temperature breakdown, core browning, and vascular breakdown, while having no significant effect on fruit firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), titratable acidity, loss of mass, or superficial scald development. Low oxygen (1.5 vs. 2.5 kPa) or high CO 2 (4.5 vs. 1.5 kPa) in the storage atmosphere had no significant effect on fruit firmness, SSC, titratable acidity, loss of mass, or the incidence of storage disorders.