Effect of humidity control, using bin liners and bin lids, on fruit quality during long term storage of apples and pears

The objective of this study was to determine if relative humidity (RH) (%) is related to fruit quality during long term CA storage

‘Royal Gala’ apples (Population 1) and ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears (Population 2) were harvested into ten bins per treatment. After fruit were cooled, bins were wrapped partially or fully with pallet wrap to create different RH environments. Fruit were evaluated after end of CA storage plus 6 weeks simulated shipping and after 7 days shelf life.

In the first season, the ‘Royal Gala’ apples stored in the best RH control treatment exhibited significantly less lenticel spot, but higher levels of internal browning. ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears stored in the best RH control treatment, exhibited less shrivel in the second season, but more decay.

Better RH control during cold storage resulted in less lenticel spot on ‘Royal Gala’ apples and lower levels of shrivel on ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears. The internal browning noted in the apples was possibly a result of CO₂ accumulation during storage and a higher air temperature in the bins. The decay on the pears was possibly due to elevated temperatures at the start of the trial.

Better RH control during cold storage resulted in less lenticel spot on ‘Royal Gala’ apples and lower levels of shrivel on ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears.