Retention of Quality of `Golden Delicious' Apples by Controlledand Modified-atmosphere Storage

`Golden Delicious' apples (Malus domestics Borkh.) were subjected to either 0C controlled-atmosphere (CA) storage or to a postharvest coating of 1.0% to 2.5% Nutri-Save (NS; a polysaccharide derived from shellfish) plus air storage. NS-coated apples were greener and firmer and had higher titratable acidity (TA) and more shrivelled and injured fruit than the control after storage in air at 0C for 5 to 6 months and ripening in air at 20C for 7 days. Poststorage washing increased skin injury, and low relative humidity during ripening increased shriveling of NS fruit. NS applications led to an accumulation of CO2 and C2H4 and a small reduction of O2 in the fruit core cavities. The use of 1.5% O2 + 1.5% CO2 in the storage atmosphere was more effective than NS plus air storage in maintaining flesh firmness (FF) and TA without increasing fruit shrivel or skin injury. NS treatments maintained FF and a green skin in fruit ripened in air at 20C for 2 or 4 weeks following harvest, but some shrivel was evident by 4 weeks. Better retention of skin greenness was the only benefit derived from a poststorage NS treatment of CA-stored fruit during the shelf-life test.