The Influence of Low Oxygen Levels and Relative Humidity on Storage of Green Tomatoes

Green and red tomatoes were stored for 3 weeks at 10° C. in 100% nitrogen or low oxygen levels and at different relative humidities. Rots were controlled by 69–76% relative humidity (R.H.) but at 86–92% R.H. considerable fungal rotting was evident after 20 days of storage. Superficial discoloration of the skin occurred on green tomatoes stored in 1·5% or less O₂ but none occurred on those stored in 4–5% O₂.

Rots caused by Rhizopus spp. were more successfully controlled by lowering the relative humidity than were those caused by Fusarium or Alternaria spp. Rots following chilling were reduced by lowering the relative humidity.     

A Supplementary Note on Fruit Spraying With A Glyoxalidine Preparation in 1948

An instrument is described for measuring the compression of tomatoes under a known weight. This has been used to study the effect of some of the many factors likely to influence the firmness of tomatoes. The measurements of compression were made along the axis from the calyx to the stylar scar.

The compressibility of the fruit increased threefold during ripening from the mature green to the fully red condition. The firmness of the fruits of two varieties increased with the number of locules per fruit.

Comparison of the fruits of eight varieties showed marked differences in firmness; the even-ripening form of Potentate (Potella) was the firmest variety tested, and Harbinger the softest. The compression readings were significantly and negatively correlated with the percentage of walls and placentae, and with the thickness of the fruit as measured along the axis of compression. Fruit size and the percentage of walls were themselves positively correlated.

Both lime and potash significantly increased the firmness of the fruit of variety Moneymaker. Phosphate had a slight beneficial effect, but no significant response was found to nitrogenous fertilizer.

Tomatoes of two varieties, grown with different combinations of shading, day temperature and watering, were examined. Fruits grown at a day temperature of 85° F. (29-5° C.) were 30% softer than those grown at 65° F. (18-3° C.). Some evidence was obtained that heavy watering softened the fruit, particularly under hot, shaded conditions.

Freshly-picked tomatoes of three varieties approaching the fully red condition continued to soften rapidly during storage (74° F.), the effect being highly significant even within three days.

The effect of fruit size on the compression readings, and on percentage compression, is discussed.     

Factors Affecting the Storage Behaviour of Papaya Fruit

Fruits of the papaya cultivar Solo 63/2 were damaged when stored at or below 45 °F (7 °C). Wrapping the fruit in polyethylene bags reduced weight loss during storage but increased the development of saprophytic fungi. Perforated polyethylene bags similarly reduced weight loss but did not increase fungal development.

Careful harvesting significantly reduced fungal infection, thus giving the fruits better flavour and longer storage life. The optimum stage of maturity for satisfactory storage and subsequent ripening was when the yellow colour was just beginning to develop in the funicles. Fruits from hermaphrodite trees were superior in flavour to those from female trees but behaved similarly during storage.     

The Effect of Conditions of Storage on the Respiration of Apples: III. The Effect of Modulation of Temperature on the Respiration of Cox’s Orange Pippin Apples,and on the Extent of Low Temperature Injury

When apples which develop low temperature breakdown (LTB) at 32° F. are moved from 32° F. to 65° F. for 3 to 5 days at about the 7th to 8th week of storage, they subsequently develop within a given period of storage less LTB than apples kept at 32° F. continuously.

The respiration of apples susceptible to LTB increases steadily during storage at 32° F. If these apples are warmed to 65° F. during the period of exposure to 32° F., the subsequent rate of respiration at 32° F. is lower than before warming, and continues at a lower rate than for apples kept at 32° F. continuously.

If the apples are moved to 38° F., without an intermediate treatment at 65° F., the rate of respiration is higher than for apples at 38° F. continuously, and this higher rate persists.

If there is an intermediate wanning period at 65° F., the respiration of apples moved from 32° to 38° F. is of the same order as that for apples kept at 38° F. continuously.

The respiratory quotient of apples at 32° F. or at 38° F., which is indicative of the type of respiratory activity, is typical for the temperature at which it is measured, and is not affected by the warming treatment. The effects of wanning on both the incidence of LTB and respiration are similar for apples stored in air and in 2% oxygen: 98% nitrogen.     

The Relation Between Time of Picking and Storage Disorders in Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple Fruits

In four successive seasons. Cox’s Orange Pippin apples were picked at weekly intervals and stored under various conditions to assess the effect of time of picking on wastage from different causes.

Mean fruit weight increased by up to 20% over the 6 to 10 weeks of the picking periods.

The maturity of the fruit when picked was assessed by following the respiration pattern of samples kept at 12°C.

The results for successive pickings of fruit kept at 37°-38° F. (2.8°-3 ·3° C.) (normal cold storage temperature for Cox) and all removed from store at the same time, showed more core flush in early-picked apples, and more senescent breakdown and rotting in late-picked apples. There was no sudden change in liability to any of these disorders which could be associated with any particular stage of maturity. There were no consistent effects of time of picking on the amount of bitter pit or on weight loss during storage.

Storage at 32° F. (o° C.) (below the recommended temperature for the storage of Cox’s Orange Pippin) resulted in low temperature breakdown. This disorder tended to be less severe in apples picked just before the climacteric rise in respiration rate.

It is concluded that, for any particular orchard, picking date should be based not only on maturity as judged by colour and size, but on the expected liability of the fruit to disorders, such as core flush and rotting due to Gloeosporium, and on the type and period of storage required.     

Storage conditions and ripening of the custard apple Annona squamosa L.

Annona squamosa is a climateric fruit in which maximal carbon dioxide production preceeds that of ethylene during post-harvest storage. Normal ripening occurred at temperatures between 15 and 30° C, although the fruits were susceptible to fungal attack at temperatures above 25° C. Storage temperatures below 15° C caused chilling-injuries. Ripening was enhanced by removal of carbon dioxide and by addition of oxygen to the storage atmosphere, and delayed by the addition of carbon dioxide or removal of oxygen. Ethylene had no apparent effect on ripening. Fruits maintained under low relative humidities ripened faster than those stored under high-humidity conditions. Dipping the fruits in a solution of indole acetic acid at concentrations between 10^?4 and 10^?2 M accelerated ripening. Levels of both ascorbic acid and glucose increased to a maximum at the climacteric, but decreased as the fruits became over ripe. The stage of “eating” ripeness occurred at the climacteric. Recommended conditions for storing custard apple are: temperatures between 15 and 20° C, low oxygen and ethylene tensions coupled with 10% carbon dioxide and a relative humidity of 85%–90% in the storage atmosphere.     

Ethylene Production During Senescence of Flowers

A method of determining ethylene production by detached flowers is described. A surge of ethylene has been shown to accompany the wilting of carnation flowers at the end of senescence. This surge is independent of fungal infection and it is concluded that in the infected flower the major source of ethylene production is the host tissues.

A similar surge of ethylene production has been observed when the inflorescence wilts on the plant between 20 and 40 days from flower opening.

At temperatures above 7·2° C. (45° F.) the ethylene surge was accompanied by collapse of the petals and rapid loss of water. Cut flowers kept continuously below 7·2° C. slowly declined in weight, the petals became flaccid and ethylene production was negligible. Infection of the flowers with fungus did not materially alter the effect of temperature on the ethylene production.     

Control of Fungal Storage Rots of Apples by Hot-Water Treatments: A Northern European Perspective

In the Lower Elbe region of Northern Germany and in other Northern European fruit production areas, about 80?% of all storage rots of apples are caused by Neofabraea alba and N. perennans. Other pathogens include Colletotrichum acutatum, Monilinia fructigena, Phaci­diopycnis washingtonensis, Neonectria galligena, Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum and Fusarium avenaceum. Hot-water treatments of freshly harvested fruits for 3 min at 50–52?°C gave high efficacies against most of these storage rots except F. avenaceum. Substantial evidence supported a heat shock-induced antimicrobial response rather than a direct killing of fungal inoculum as the principal mode of action of hot-water treatments in apples. Shorter exposures for?<?30 s at 55–60?°C also provided good control of fungal storage rots and thereby offer new possibilities for this technology in Northern European fruit production. These possibilities include the integration of a hot-water unit into existing grading lines and the option to treat fruits at different time points, e.g. at harvest, after short-term storage and/or after long-term storage.     

Environmental interaction between day length,night temperature,and photon flux density on growth and flowering in Boronia megastigma Nees.

Summary

Boronia plants were placed in a range of environmental conditions, two night temperatures (6 and 15°C), three photon flux densities (full sunlight, 50% and 30%), and two day lengths (natural autumn to winter cycle and natural autumn to winter cycle plus synthetic to 16 h total light). Flowering occurred to some extent under all conditions; generally conditions suitable for high growth rates were not optimum for flowering, maximum numbers of flowers were achieved with low night temperatures (6°C), short days (10 h), and full to 50% sunlight. Floral development was influenced by all treatments.     

Fruit-Thinning Effects on the Development and Storage Quality of Cox’s Orange Pippin Apple Fruits

Fruit-thinning treatments were applied in the three seasons 1963–65 to Cox trees to investigate the relationships between leaf : fruit ratio, fruit size, cell volume and cell number, and the incidence of rotting and disorders following air storage at 2·8° C. (37° F.) and o° C. (32° F.). Progressively more severe thinning was required, sis fruit development proceeded, to obtain a similar increase in fruit size. This declining response to thinning was accompanied by a progressively smaller increase in the cell numbers of fruits as the treatments were delayed. Thinning also caused an increase in cell-enlargement rate but the magnitude of the response varied between different experiments and did not appear to be related to the developmental stage at which the treatment was applied.

The larger fruits from thinned trees were more susceptible to bitter pit, breakdown, and rotting caused by Gloeosporium perennans, but were less susceptible to low-temperature injury than fruits from unthinned trees. Bitter-pit incidence was related to fruit size within each treatment and was more severe in fruit where the ratio between the potassium and calcium concentrations was high. Low-temperature injury was associated with fruit with low dry matter and potassium contents. Susceptibility to this disorder and to rotting was also influenced by fruit maturity as measured by the progress of the climacteric rise in respiration rate. There were no marked relationships between storage disorders and the numbers or size of cells in fruits produced by the various treatments included in these experiments.     

Apple Rootstock Studies: Thirty-Five Years’ Results with Cox’s orange Pippin on Clonal Rootstocks

With the aim of obtaining information about light and temperature relationships during the early weeks of growth of young tomato plants, measurements of the weekly dry weight increments were made with plants up to six weeks old. Growth took place in natural light conditions during a number of winter periods (October to March). The daily light-time integrals (foot candle hours) were recorded throughout the investigation. In three experiments, each extending over a whole winter period, plants were grown at one-day temperature, but at three levels of night temperature, namely (a) 4° F. lower than the day, (6) equal with the day, and (c) 4° F. higher than the day. The day temperature was 6o° F. (15 ? 5° C.), 64° F. (68°C.) and 68°F. (20°C.) respectively for the three experiments. The results are summarized as follows :

1. With each day temperature, growth rates were lowest when night temperature was lower than the day.

2. Comparison of the effects of the constant temperature regimes with the high night temperature regimes showed that with the day temperature at 60° F. the growth rate was generally higher when the night temperature was high. With higher day temperatures, however, this was not the case.

3. There was little evidence that over this temperature range the temperature inducing maximum growth was related either to the light conditions or to the age of the plant.

4. The response to night temperature was small by comparison with response to that of the day.

5. The results suggest that in winter highest growth rates will be achieved if the night temperature is not lower than 64° F. and the day not lower than 68° F.

The results of an experiment designed to evaluate the separate effects of day and night temperatures showed that, over the temperature range 6o° F. to 68° F., dry weight increased with the night temperature. However, a much larger increase resulted with a comparable temperature rise during the day. Stem length was unaffected by the level of the night temperature but increased markedly with the day temperature.

The periods from pricking-out to both initiation and anthesis of the first two inflorescences were recorded for plants growing at 6o° F., 64° F. and 68° F. The temperature effect on the period to initiation was small. The inverse relationship between temperature and the period to anthesis was especially marked in low light conditions.

The value of adjusting both the day and night temperatures in accordance with the day-to-day fluctuations of the natural light was assessed by comparison with other temperature regimes having the same mean over each 24 hours. In general, flowering and fruiting was earliest when the day and night temperatures were equal. No evidence was found to justify the technique of adjusting the temperature in accordance with the natural light.     

The controlled atmosphere storage of Conference pears

Conference pears from five sources in Kent were stored in 0.5%, 1% and 2% O₂ at — 1°C. Samples from one source were also stored in air at the same temperature. On ripening at 18°C in air there was a lag phase before softening commenced. The lag phase generally lasted 3 d for fruit from 0.5% O₂ storage, 2 d for fruit from 1% and 2% O₂ storage, and between 1 and 3 d for fruit from air storage. There was no lag phase before chlorophyll loss. The rate of decline of firmness at 18°C was higher for fruit from 0.5% O₂ storage than for fruit from 1% or 2% O₂ storage. There was no effect of source of fruit on the length of the lag phase or the rate of softening. It was concluded that the storage life of Conference pears at — 1°C was at least 40 weeks in 0.5%, 1% or 2% O₂ and 35 weeks in air.     

The Influence of Controlled Atmospheres on the Respiration Rates and Storage Behaviour of Strawberry Fruits

The output of CO₂ from strawberries, cv. Cambridge Favourite, held at 4.5 °C in air, I, 2 or 5% 0₂ fell to a minimum after 5 days. Thereafter the rate increased, more rapidly in air (in which rotting was more prevalent) than in 1 or 2% O₂.

Strawberry fruits stored at 3 °C in air, 5, 10, 15 and 20% CO₂ remained in good condition for 10 days, and all concentrations of CO₂ reduced rotting due to Botrytis. The alcohol content of the fruit increased with the length of storage and with higher concentrations of CO₂; 20% CO₂ caused severe injury after 30 days.

It is suggested that long-term storage in O₂ concentrations of 1% or lower may lead to off-flavours, and that the use of higher CO₂ concentrations may be restricted to storage for up to 7 days where adequate refrigeration is unavailable. Loss of flavour which occurred under all conditions after 15–20 days appears to be the main factor limiting the long-term storage of United Kingdom strawberries.     

The Effects of Light Intensity,Day Temperature and Water Supply on the Fruit-Ripening Disorders and Yield of two Varieties of Tomato

A study was made of the effects on fruit-ripening disorders and crop yield of shaded and unshaded glasshouses maintained at both high and low daytime temperatures (80° F. (26 ? 5° C.) and 65° F. (18 ? 3° C.)), in which were grown two varieties of tomatoes (Potentate and Ware Cross) at two levels of watering.

Shading the glasshouses reduced the proportion of non-uniformly coloured fruit at the high temperature. At the low temperature, shading reduced the proportion in i960 but there was no effect in 1959. Light watering reduced the proportion of non-uniformly coloured fruit in the first year but it had little effect in the second year. The variety Ware Cross bore approximately 10% fewer non-uniformly coloured fruit than did Potentate in both years.

Shading the glasshouses reduced yield in both years, the decrease being greater (62%) in the very dull year of i960 than it was (40%) in the very sunny year of 1959. The house at the low day temperature yielded a 30% greater weight of crop than the warmer house. In both years the heavily watered plants yielded more than the lightly watered plants because of an increase in mean fruit size. Potentate and Ware Cross yielded similar weights of crop in both years but Ware Cross bore more fruits and had a smaller mean fruit size.

The gross cash return obtained in 1960 was reduced by shading the glasshouses, by maintaining a high day temperature and by growing the variety Potentate as opposed to Ware Cross. The differences in the watering regimes employed had little effect on the cash return obtained.

By assuming that yield and quality have simple mathematical relations with degree of shading, the profitability of shading is discussed. It is shown that shading is not likely to be profitable.     

Effects of polyethylene bags,ethylene absorbent and 1-methylcyclopropene on the storage of Japanese pears

Summary

Storage of the ‘Nijisseiki’ cultivar of Japanese pears was studied over three seasons for periods up to 36 weeks at 0°C. Storage in 50 μm thick low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags at 0°C considerably delayed yellowing in all experiments, even after fruit was removed to 20°C for 1 week at the end of storage. The addition of an ethylene absorbent made from potassium permanganate on aluminium oxide (Purafil II) further delayed yellowing. Carbon dioxide levels in both treatments varied, but were generally in the range 2–3%. Oxygen levels remained high, generally 16–19%. In bags without Purafil, ethylene levels rose slightly during storage and were generally about 0.15 μl l^–1. When Purafil was included in the bags, the ethylene level was reduced 10-fold or more. A sensory test indicated that the use of LDPE bags and ethylene absorbent resulted in fruit with better eating quality than fruit stored in air. Disorders over the 3-year investigation were low even after long-term storage. The use of polyethylene bags reduced the severity of flesh browning, and flesh spot decay was virtually absent. The use of bags increased the severity of core browning. Inclusion of an ethylene absorbent in bags reduced the severity of disorders, particularly core browning. Treatment of the fruit with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), before or during storage, resulted in higher ethylene levels in the polyethylene bags. At the concentrations used, 1-MCP did not improve the storage of ‘Nijisseiki’ compared to the use of polyethylene bags with Purafil II.     

The effect of conditions of storage on the respiration of apples. VI. The effects of temperature and controlled atmosphere storage on the relationship between rates of production of ethylene and carbon dioxide

Studies on freshly harvested fruit of three apple cultivars kept in air or under C.A. conditions at 12°, 7.2°, 3.3° and 0 °C have shown that the initiation of ethylene production is not necessarily associated with the onset of the respiration climacteric, and therefore cast doubt on the belief that ethylene is a ripening hormone. The dissociation of the two phenomena was effected by low temperatures and by storage under C.A. conditions.

The studies showed also that there is a linear relationship between rate of production of ethylene and its concentration in the intercellular spaces of the fruit.     

Studies on the post-initiation development of flower buds of tomato (Lycopersicon Esculentum)

The application of high temperature (ca. 70° F., 21° C.) to tomato plants for varying periods prior to first anthesis showed that:

1. Inflorescence abortion occurred when high temperature (and low light) was applied in the late stages of development of the inflorescence. Similar treatment in the early stages, up to the time when the first cluster of buds could be seen by the naked eye, did not induce abortion.

2. In low light conditions, equivalent to those occurring naturally at mid-winter, an initial period of high temperature (70° F.) followed by low (60° F., 15–5° C.) induced a greater flowering capacity than constant low temperature.

3. The beneficial effects on flower development resulting from early high temperature treatment were greatest when the day temperature was high, though some benefit also resulted from a high night temperature. The effects were evident only with early (October) sown plants. There was no apparent adverse effect on flower development of high temperature applied up to the “visible bud” stage (2,250 kilolux hours).     

Long-day control of flowering in everbearing strawberries

Summary

Photoperiod and temperature control of flowering in a number of perpetual-flowering or everbearing strawberry cultivars of widely varying pedigree has been studied in controlled environments. Flower bud initiation in the cultivars ‘Flamenco’, ‘Ridder’, ‘Rita’ and ‘Rondo’ was significantly advanced by long-day (LD) conditions at temperatures of 15°C and 21ºC; while, at 27ºC, flowering took place under LD conditions only. Some plants of the seed-propagated F₁-hybrid ‘Elan’, raised at 21°C, also flowered under short-day (SD) conditions at 27°C, but reverted to the vegetative state after a few weeks when maintained under these conditions. When vegetative plants growing in SD at 27°C were transferred to LD conditions at the same temperature, they consistently initiated flower buds and started flowering after about 4 weeks. At such a high temperature, flowering could thus be turned on and off by switching between SD and LD conditions. This applied to all the cultivars studied. Also the cultivar ‘Everest’, which was tested only at 21°C, produced similar results. Night interruption for 2 h was effective in bringing about the LD response. At 9°C, flowering was substantially delayed, especially in ‘Flamenco’ and, at this temperature, flowering was unaffected by photoperiod. Runner formation was generally promoted by high temperature and SD conditions, but the photoperiodic effect varied between experiments. We conclude that everbearing strawberry cultivars, in general, whether of the older European-type or the modern Californian-type originating from crosses with selections of Fragaria virginiana ssp. glauca, are qualitative (obligatory) LD plants at high temperature (27°C), and quantitative LD plants at intermediate temperatures. Only at temperatures below 10°C are these cultivars day-neutral.     

Modified atmosphere packaging of ‘Kolikuttu’ bananas at low temperature

Summary

Mature `Kolikuttu' bananas were packed under modified atmosphere (M.A.) conditions using low density polyethylene (LDPE) bags and stored at 14°C and 94% r.h. The effect of ethylene scavengers on storage life of banana was examined. The in-package concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide and ethylene were measured during storage. Percentage weight loss, changes in firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), pH and sugar: acid during storage were also determined. Based on the in-package gaseous composition, the optimum storage period was defined. After termination of storage, bananas were allowed to ripen naturally, and the physico-chemical properties of ripened banana were analysed. `Kolikuttu' bananas could be packed in LDPE (0.075 mm) and stored at 14°C and 94% r.h. for 24.d. Storage life could be further extended up to 30.d by using ethylene scavengers. Physico-chemical properties of M.A. stored banana after ripening were similar to those held under ambient conditions. Therefore, packaging of `Kolikuttu' banana as individual hands in LDPE (0.075.mm) bags of 1:1 surface to weight ratio (cm² g^-1) with 50 ml of saturated potassium permanganate absorbed onto suitable porous matrices could be recommended to increase storage lifeat 14°C.     

Fermentative metabolism in ‘Conference’ pears under various storage conditions

Summary

The aim of this work was to investigate the fermentative metabolism of ‘Conference’ pears during different storage regimes. Fruits were stored at 0°C in the following controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions: 6 kPa CO₂ + 0.5 kPa O₂;3 kPa CO₂ + 1 kPa O₂; or 1 kPa CO₂ + 2 kPa O₂; and also in regular air (RA) as a control. Pears kept in RA showed low pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and alcohol dehydrogensase (ADH) activities, and correspondingly low levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde production as long as the fruits were maintained at low temperatures. During shelf-life at 20°C, RA-fruits released higher amounts of acetaldehyde, while ethanol production remained low. Lactate concentrations in RA-stored pears increased continuously in the second part of the storage period and during shelf-life, while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity remained low. During CA-storage, ‘Conference’ pears showed continuous increases in the activities of PDC and ADH, mainly in fruits stored under high CO₂ and/or low O₂ partial pressures. The production of ethanol and acetaldehyde was not influenced in fruits stored in 6 kPa CO₂ + 0.5 kPa O₂. LDH activity in CA-stored pears increased during storage, while lactate concentrations diminished. During shelf-life at 20°C, the concentrations of all measured fermentation products increased, particularly acetaldehyde and lactate. We conclude that PDC, ADH, and LDH activities are not rate-limiting factors in the accumulation of fermentation products in ‘Conference’ pears during storage and shelf-life at 20°C.