Effects of Prestorage Carbon Dioxide Treatments and Delayed Storage on Stem-end Rind Breakdown of ‘Marsh’ Grapefruit1

Abstract

Prestorage treatments of 10, 20, and 40% CO2 for 3 and 7 days at 21°C significantly reduced stem-end rind breakdown in grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Macf.) held at 4.5° for 8 and 12 weeks. Three days’ exposure to CO2 was as effective as 7 days’ exposure; however, 20 and 40% concentrations of CO2 were significantly more effective in reducing stem-end rind breakdown than was 10% CO2. Fruit stored continuously at 4.5° in air or that exposed to 21° in an air prior to storage at 4.5° had significantly more stem-end rind breakdown than that exposed to CO2.

Effects of Prestorage Carbon Dioxide Treatments and Delayed Storage on Stem-end Rind Breakdown of ‘Marsh’ Grapefruit1

“…Rind pitting, a type of chilling in jury, was reported in 1975 in fruit from the same groves involved in these experiments (3). All prestorage CO2 treatments significantly reduced rind pitting in stored fruit.…”