The effect of conditions of storage on the respiration of apples. VII. The carbon and oxygen balance

When apples of three cultivars were kept in air or in nitrogen at 12 °C, the loss of C0₂ plus alcohol was equivalent to the loss of carbohydrate plus acid. At lower temperatures, the loss of these substrates exceeded the loss as end products. Sorbitol accumulated in stored apples, in greater amount the lower the temperature. When the carbon of the sorbitol was subtracted from that of the carbohydrate, balance was restored.

In air at low temperatures, the observed uptake of oxygen was less than that needed for oxidation of carbohydrate plus acid. When the carbohydrate loss was corrected for sorbitol accumulation, the observed oxygen uptake was equivalent to that required by the net loss of substrates.

However, under C.A. conditions, in 5% CO₂ plus 3% O₂, the observed net loss of substrate exceeded the loss as end products of respiration.