2019 ASHS Annual Conference

Temperature management is a critical component of apple fruit postharvest systems. Cultivars differ in sensitivity to low temperature with development of some physiological disorders dependent on fruit temperature after harvest. A cooling protocol that holds fruit in air at an initial relatively high temperature (conditioning) followed by a lower final temperature can be an effective means to reduce physiological disorders for some cultivars. Temperature conditioning for disorder management is a strategy consistent with organic production but conditioning may limit storage duration due to excessive quality loss for conventional or organic fruit. Three cultivars, ‘Fuji’, ‘Gala’, and ‘Granny Smith’ with potential for fruit quality loss from delayed cooling in air were used to evaluate establishment of controlled atmosphere (CA) during temperature conditioning to impact physiological disorders while preventing excessive ripening. Results of a two-year study indicate some physiological disorders were impacted but quality was similar for conditioned fruit held in CA compared to fruit stored in CA at a lower temperature. The results indicate potential for postharvest management of these cultivars that maintains fruit quality while impacting physiological disorder development using existing technology compatible with organic production.