THE POTENTIAL OF FRUIT COATING AND FILM TREATMENTS FOR IMPROVING THE STORAGE AND SHELF-LIFE QUALITIES OF 'GALA' AND 'GOLDEN DELICIOUS' APPLES

The effects of harvest-applied coating and shrink-wrap polymeric film treatments of apples ( Malus ×domestica Borkh. 'Gala' and Mansf. 'Golden Delicious') on volatile levels, quality attributes, respiration, and internal atmospheres after storage at 0 °C for 1 to 6 months, and during subsequent shelf life at 20 °C were investigated. Over 30 volatiles were detected, most of the identified volatiles were esters, the rest were alcohols, aldehydes, a ketone and a sesquiterpene. Shellac- and wax-based fruit coatings transiently inhibited total volatile levels in 'Golden Delicious' while not affecting those in 'Gala' apples during 6 months of storage in air at 0 °C. Holding fruit at 20 °C for up to three weeks following cold storage increased volatile levels with coated and nontreated fruit having similar amounts. Only shellac-coated 'Golden Delicious' apples accumulated ethanol and ethyl acetate when held at 20 °C. The shrink-wrap polymeric film treatment had no effect on fruit volatile levels during cold storage or during subsequent shelf life at 20 °C. Coating but not film treatments reduced respiration and ethylene production rates that were observed upon transferring the fruit to 20 °C. Internal CO2 and ethylene levels increased and O 2 levels decreased in coated fruit. The coating treatments led to better retention of flesh firmness in 'Golden Delicious' but not 'Gala' apples. Coating and film treatments reduced fresh weight loss in both cultivars during cold storage. The results suggest that harvest-applied coating and film treatments having relatively high permeability for CO 2 and O2 and relatively low permeability for water vapor and fruit volatiles have potential for improving the storage and shelf-life qualities of 'Gala' and 'Golden Delicious' apples.

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