|
Changes in fruit quality and some components of Unshiu orange(Citrus Unshiu Marc. Hayashi) stored at 2℃ in air or a controlled atmosphere(CA, O₂ 10%, CO₂ 2%) for 111 days were studied. The incidence of rot fruits was higher in air(12.7%) than in CA condition(3.9%). The appearance of the frutits was better in CA condition than in air. There was no significant difference in the weight loss of whole fruits between both storage conditions. The ratio of the flesh weight to whole fruits under CA condition was slightly lower than those in air until 62 days of storage, while it showed no rapid decrease in the later period of storage. Under both storage conditions, the Brix in the flesh increased in the early period of storage and then decreased slowly, while the free acid contents decreased gradually during storage. In comparison with the fruits stored in air, those under CA condition showed lower total sugar content. The sugar in the flesh of the fruits is composed of sucrose, fructose and glucose. The content of total sugar as well as each sugar showed no distinct difference under both storage conditions. In the flesh of the fruits, citric acid comprised about 90 % of the organic; acid and malic acid the second abundant acid. During storage, the contents of citric, malic and oxalic acid decreased. Significant difference in the decreasing rate of total organic acid between both storage conditions was not found. From the above results, it might be considered that CA could be applied for the storage of Unshiu orange grown on Cheju
|