Rabbiteye Blueberry Storage Life and Fruit Quality in Controlled Atmospheres and Air Storage

Abstract

Fruits of rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei Read cvs. Climax and Woodard) harvested by hand in 1984 and machine in 1985 were stored in air, 100% N2, and in 10%, 15%, or 20% CO2 with 5% O2. Storage of either blueberry cultivars in high-CO2 atmospheres resulted in greater percentages of marketable and firm fruit, and better sensory ratings, than did storage in air. Fruit of ‘Climax’ lost less weight, were firmer, and developed less decay after 21 or 42 days of storage than ‘Woodard’ fruit. Fruit quality characteristics of hand-harvested ‘Climax’ stored for 42 days and machine-harvested ‘Climax’ stored for 21 days in 20% CO2 with 5% O2 were similar to those of freshly harvested fruit.