The objective was to evaluate the effect of relative humidity in cold and controlled atmosphere storage on the quality of 'Gala' apples. The evaluated treatments were: cold storage + high humidity (96%), cold storage + low humidity (90%), controlled atmosphere + high humidity (96%), controlled atmosphere + low humidity (90%). Fruit of all treatments were stored at 0.5°C and the controlled atmosphere conditions was 1.2kPa O2 + 3.0kPa CO2. After seven months, fruit stored in low humidity had smaller incidence of fruit cracking, but higher shriveling index. After five days at 20°C, fruit maintained in cold storage and in controlled atmosphere with low humidity, showed lower decay incidence and less fruit cracking. Flesh breakdown and mealiness was not influenced by relative humidity in storage room.
Malus domestica; postharvest; quality
