The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of ethanol vapor during storage in modified atmosphere on the ripening and maintenance of the postharvest quality of ‘Laetitia’ plums. The plums were obtained from an orchard in the municipality of Lages, SC. The experimental design adopted was completely randomized. The treatments evaluated were ethanol vapor doses (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mL kg-1 of fruit). The fruits were stored at 0.5±0.2°C and 92±2% RH for 30 days. Upon their removal from storage followed by another three days in room conditions (20±5ºC and 63±2% RH), the fruits were evaluated in relation to their physical and chemical attributes, incidence and intensity of internal browning, quantification of ethanol, acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate, and the activity of enzymes peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. The application of ethanol vapor was efficient in maintaining the fruits flesh firmness, reducing the evolution of the red coloring, and resulted in greater activity of enzymes peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. However, the doses evaluated were not efficient in reducing the internal browning.

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The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the application of technologies complementary to controlled atmosphere (CA) storage, 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP), ethanol vapor (Eth), and nitric oxide (NO), on the quality of “Cripps Pink” apples. The treatments evaluated were control (without complementary technology), 1‐MCP (1 μl L−1), Eth (6 ml/kg), and NO (10 and 20 μl L−1), applied before the fruits were stored in a CA (1.2 kPa O2 + <0.1 kPa CO2 at 1.5 ± 0.2°C and 94 ± 2% RH). Fruit treated with 1‐MCP showed lower respiration and ethylene production rates, superficial scald and mealy fruit, greener peel and higher flesh firmness, and titratable acidity. All treatments additional to CA led to a lower respiratory rate and higher total phenolic compound content and total antioxidant activity than the control. NO (10 and 20 µl L−1) treatment prior to CA storage reduced the respiratory rate and superficial scald compared to the control. Practical application This study analyzed the effects of pretreatment with 1‐methylcyclopropene (1‐MCP), ethanol vapor, and NO fumigation before controlled atmosphere storage of “Cripps Pink” apples as a way to preserve fruit quality. 1‐MCP treatment maintained better quality than the other treatments. NO treatment showed intermediate results of quality maintenance because reduced superficial scald and resulted in the highest total phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity in organic “Cripps Pink” apple.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of single and multiple pre-harvest spray aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) applications with or without ethephon, in ‘Baigent’ apple trees cultivated under anti-hail screen and harvesting date on fruit quality after storage. The experiment was conducted in a commercial orchard in the municipality of Vacaria/RS, in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 harvests. Treatments consisted of: control (plants sprayed with water); AVG (125 mg L-1, 30 days before the predicted harvest date; BPHD); ethephon (120 mg L-1, seven BPHD); AVG (62.5 mg L-1 + 62.5 mg L-1, 30 and 20 BPHD); AVG (62.5 mg L-1 + 62.5 mg L-1, 30 and 20 BPHD) + ethephon (120 mg L-1, seven BPHD). Fruits of all treatments were harvested at commercial harvest (harvest 1) and after 14 days (harvest 2). Fruits were evaluated after four months of cold storage (0.5 °C ± 0.2 °C and RH 92 ± 5%). The use of AVG, regardless of single or multiple applications, reduced ethylene production rate, skin yellowing, farinaceous pulp and senescent degeneration incidence and maintained higher pulp firmness values and pulp penetration and skin rupture strength. Ethephon provided fruits with higher farinaceous pulp incidence. Fruit treated with AVG, regardless of single or multiple application and combination with ethephon, presents better quality after cold storage.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) associated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; 1.0 μL L −1 ), induction of mass loss (IML; 2%), and low ethylene (LE; <0.04 μL L −1 of C 2 H 4 ) on the quality preservation of 'Laetitia' plums. In experiment 1 (2010), the treatments evaluated were cold storage (CS; 21.0 kPa O 2 + <0.03 kPa CO 2 ), CA1 (1 kPa O 2 + 1 kPa CO 2 ), CA1 + 1-MCP, CA1 + IML, and CA1 + LE. In experiment 2 (2011), the treatments evaluated were CS, CA2 (2 kPa O 2 + 2 kPa CO 2 ), CA2 + IML, and CA2 + 1-MCP. In both experiments, the fruit were stored at 0.5 ± 0.1°C and 96 ± 2% RH. CA storage delayed fruit ripening in both atmosphere conditions evaluated and reduced the internal browning of the 'Laetitia' plums, particularly in CA2. 1-MCP, LE, and IML had additional effects to CA1 on preserving flesh consistency. 1-MCP, irrespective of the CA condition, and IML, in CA1, reduced internal browning. CA1, regardless of the complementary technologies, reduced the incidence of decay and fruit cracking. Keywords: Prunus salicina. Internal browning. Physiological disorder. Ripening. AMEIXAS 'LAETITIA' ARMAZENADAS EM ATMOSFERA CONTROLADA COM INDUÇÃO DE PERDA DE MASSA E MANEJO DO ETILENO RESUMO -Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da atmosfera controlada (AC) associada ao 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP; 1,0 μL L -1 ), à indução de perda de massa (IPM; 2%) e ao baixo etileno (BE; <0,04 μL L -1 de C 2 H 4 ) sobre a manutenção da qualidade de ameixas 'Laetitia'. No experimento 1, em 2010, os tratamentos avaliados foram armazenamento refrigerado (AR; 21 kPa O 2 + <0,03 kPa CO 2 ), AC1 (1 kPa O 2 + 1 kPa CO 2 ), AC1+1-MCP, AC1+IPM e AC1+BE. No experimento 2, em 2011, os tratamentos foram AR, AC2 (2 kPa O 2 + 2 kPa CO 2 ), AC2+1-MCP e AC2+IPM. Em ambos os experimentos, os frutos foram armazenados a 0,5±0,1 ºC e 96±2% de umidade relativa. A AC retardou o amadurecimento, em ambas as atmosferas avaliadas, e reduziu o escurecimento de polpa de ameixas 'Laetitia', especialmente na AC2. O 1-MCP, o BE e a IPM apresentaram efeito adicional à AC1 na manutenção da consistência da polpa. O 1-MCP, independente da condição de AC, e a IPM, na condição de AC1, reduziram o escurecimento da polpa.A AC1, independente do uso de tecnologias complementares, reduziu a incidência de podridões e de rachaduras.Palavras-chave: Prunus salicina. Escurecimento da polpa. Distúrbio fisiológico. Amadurecimento.