In the present work the effects of hydro cooling on the quality of 'Chimarrita' and 'Chiripá' peaches were evaluated. Peaches were hydro cooled by immersion in water at 5ºC with flesh temperatures monitored for 3 minutes and thereafter stored at 0ºC ('Chiripá') or 0,5ºC ('Chimarrita') for 7, 14 or 21 days. Samples were evaluated at harvest, after retrieval from cold storage and after 2 or 3 more days at 20ºC for ripening. Hydrocooled peaches dehydrated more, but both, hydrocooled and control peaches showed symptoms of shriveling after ripening at 20ºC. Decay losses of both cultivars did not differ amongst treatments during storage, though, were higher in 'Chimarrita' control peaches after ripening at 20°C. Flesh firmness was similar in hydrocooled and not hydrocooled 'Chimarrita' peaches, but was higher in hydro cooled 'Chiripá' peaches during storage. In both cultivars flesh firmness decreased to the same values after ripening at 20ºC. After 21 days of cold storage, woolliness was observed in 50% of 'Chiripá' and in 15% of 'Chimarrita' hydro cooled and not hydrocooled peaches. Firmness retention was observed in 20% of 'Chiripá' and in 50% of 'Chimarrita' peaches.
Stone fruits; pre cooling; cold storage; chilling injuries
