Impact of controlled atmosphere storage conditions on storability and consumer acceptability of sweet cherries 'Regina'

摘要

Sweet cherries obtained from a rain-protected orchard were subjected to various controlled atmosphere storage conditions for up to seven weeks. Quality parameters responded differentially to various CA-conditions: changes in fruit firmness, sugar content and colour were mostly not significant. However, the storage conditions exerted significant impact on other parameters such as respiration rate, RQ, ATP- and ADP-concentrations. Air-stored fruits respired at significant higher rates than CA or ultra low oxygen-stored fruits. Moreover, the impact of CA-storage conditions persisted even after a conditioning period of 36 h at room temperature. The ATP and ADP concentrations of sweet cherries behaved similarly, where a combination of reduced O_2 and very high CO_2 concentration (12 percent or above) resulted in highly reduced ATP-concentration in the fruit tissue. A taste panel considered fruits stored under 6 percent CO_2 + 2 percent O_2 as good, although there was a strong indication that it is better to store sweet cherries for a limited time (up to five weeks) under a low O_2 concentration combined with a high CO_2 concentration (12 percent) or under a high O_2 concentration combined with a very high CO_2 (18 percent).