Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere Storage for Non-chemical Maintenance of Apple Quality
Project Director
Christopher Brian Watkins
Year Funded
2018
Award Number
2018-51106-28770
Funded Institution
Cornell University
Grant Program
ORG (Organic Transitions)
USDA NIFA Report
Project Overview
Improved methods to store organic apples are needed to extend marketing options, as standard Controlled Atmosphere [CA, 1.5-2% oxygen (O2) and 1-5% carbon dioxide (CO2)] without post-harvest ethylene inhibitor treatment does not adequately control physiological disorders. This project evaluated Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) storage at lower O2 levels (0.5-0.7%, continuously monitored and adjusted to avoid anaerobic damage to fruit), a method widely used in Europe but not in the US, for maintaining apple quality during storage.
Six cultivars of apples were stored for 6 or 9 months under CA or DCA, with or without a preliminary treatment with the ethylene inhibitor 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), widely used for storage of conventionally grown apples. After storage, apples were analyzed and taste tested.
Farmer Takeaways
(1) Dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage can improve firmness for up to 9 months storage in apple cultivars that tend to soften over time (e.g., Jonagold, Golden Delicious).
(2) DCA is a viable organic alternative to post-harvest chemical ethylene inhibitor treatment (1-MCP) and can reduce physiological storage disorders like flesh browning.
(3) For firmer cultivars (e.g., ‘Fugi,’ ‘Honeycrisp,’ ‘Enterprise,’ and ‘Goldrush’) neither DCA nor 1-MCP improve outcomes over standard controlled atmosphere (CA) storage.
(4) Letting apples reach full ripeness on the tree (versus picking slightly underripe) may increase flesh browning and reduce storage longevity.
Project Outputs
Chris B. Watkins, Yosef Al Shoffe, DoSu Park, Robin Dando, and David R. Rudell. 2022. Insights into the Use of Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) Storage Technology Based on Results with Organically Grown Apples. Fruit Quarterly 30 (1): 10-13.
Yosef Al Shoffe, David Rudell, DoSu Park, Burak E. Algul, Mingze Qin, Menghan Shi, Robin Dando, and Christopher B. Watkins. 2024. Aroma volatiles and sensory quality of organically-grown apple cultivars after dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage and comparison with CA-stored fruit with and without 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP). Postharvest Biology and Technology 114.