No abstract

The development of core breakdown in ‘Bartlett’ pears (Pyrus communis L.) held at 20°C after 3 months of storage in air or in 1% O2 at 0° was monitored with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging. Longitudinal NMR images of the fruit revealed the presence and severity of core breakdown. The progress of the disorder inside the fruit could be clearly seen without destroying the fruit. A distinct difference in the degree of core breakdown between air and low-O2 stored fruit could be discerned in the NMR images.