To determine the respiration rate of post-harvest fruit, the amount of carbon dioxide released through respiration was measured for the leading varieties of apple, grape, peach, and pear. To investigate the effects of low temperature and packing fruits with polyethylene film on the quality of stored fruits, harvested fruits were stared at room temperature or at 2.5∼3.5℃ condition using refrigerator, packed in polyethylene-film bag of 0.04㎜ in thickness or not. Besides, a survey on the actual status of fruit growers storage facilities was carried out for the following main fruit growing distrets in Korea: Najoo, Pyongtaik, and Chaongjoo.
The results are summarized as follows:
1. The amount of carbon dioxide released through respiration was more in the all varieties harvested during high temperature period than in those harvested during lower temperature period. In the same low temperature storage, however, it was mare in the early-ripening varieties than in the late-ripening varieties in a species.
2. Polyethylene film bag storage reduced softness and the rot of peach to some extent.
3. Storage at low temperature with polyethylene-film bag reduced mast the weight loss and softness of fruit flesh occurred during storage of fruits. But there is no significant difference in the flesh firmness of Japanese pear among the storage methods.
4. On the whole, storage at tow-temperature with polyethylene-film bag delayed after-ripening of fruits during storage, resulting in smaller changes in sweetness and sourness of fruit flesh. It also reduced, to some extent, dropping of grape-berries and apple spot of Jonathan during storage.
5. Storing unripenod Golden Delicious apples in Polyethylene-film bag at room temperature increased injury due to storage scald, in contrast with that the scald injury was reduced by storing the apples in polyethylene-film bag at 2.5∼3.5℃ low temperature.
6. As most of storage facilities in the surveyed districts are constructed as single wall, subground type, their temperature, humidity, and ventilation can not be controlled effectrolled effectively for long-period storage of fruits in good quality.
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