Journal of Taiwan Agricultural Research

Author:Chao-Chia Huang*, Huei-Suei Huang, Chin-Yu Tsai and Su-Jein Chang

Abstract:

    Annual grafting ‘Shinko’ pear fruits are always harvested late for better eating quality and higher price. After short term storage the price will become even higher. However these late harvest fruits have short storage life. Fruit softening, which can be easily felt by hand is a major problem. In this study, 40% of the fruits became soft after 2 months storage at 1-2℃ followed by 2 days on shelf (23-28℃). Controlled atmosphere storage including 2.2% O₂, 2.3% O₂+2.1% CO₂ and 2.1% O₂+5.1% CO₂ significantly decreased the occurrence of fruit softening. The fruit softening was less than 20% in these treatments. After 3 months storage followed by 2 days on shelf only 25% of fruits are salable in control. In addition to fruit softening (about 65% of fruits), spongy tissue (50% of fruits), water soaking tissue (40% of fruits) and black spot on skin (20% of fruits) all lowered the fruit salability. Most of these defects were decreased to less than 40% of fruits by controlled atmosphere storage. The best treatment in controlled atmosphere storage is 2.3% O₂ combined with 2.1% CO₂. Only 10% fruits became soft and with spongy tissue. 90% of the fruits had marketable value. The freshness such as fruit appearance was also much better in controlled atmosphere storage than cold storage. Differences in fruit firmness, sugar content and acid content were not significantly different among fruits with cold storage and all controlled atmosphere storages. Occurrence of fruit softening was judged mainly by hand-feeling and was not detectable with fruit firmness tester; this was because softening occurred only on the surface layers of fruit tissue and skin. After cutting, spongy tissue and water soaking tissue are detected in air stored fruits. All these defects lowered the storage life of late harvest ‘Shinko’ pears and they were significantly retarded with controlled atmosphere storage.

Key words:Asian pear, Controlled atmosphere storage, Fruit quality

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