Prediction for Storage Life and Quality of Fuji Apple Stored in a Controlled Atmosphere Container

Abstract

This study was carried out to indirectly predict the storage time limit, hardness, and acidity of Fuji apples in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. A sensor installed inside the CA storage measured temperature, relative humidity, and gas composition data in real time. The respiration rate from five tons of apples in CA storage was calculated to predict the weight loss rate. As a result, the predicted and actual weight loss rate induced a predictable residual storage time equation that showed a significantly high correlation. The apple storage period showed a high reliability (R2=0.9322) because the predicted equation using respiration rate and number of days stored was about nine months for five tons of apples. Furthermore, the hardness and acidity prediction equation were derived from the quality analysis. However, there was not enough analysis sample correlation (the coefficient was as low as 0.3506 and 0.3144, respectively), but the tendency could be confirmed by reduced hardness and acidity. As a result, these quality prediction equations could encourage CA container distribution, effective for agricultural shipment regulation and increasing the ease of operations.

Prediction Method of Weight Loss through Measurement of Controlled Atmosphere (CA) Storage Environment

“…Increase of Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) due to repetition between agricultural products and atmosphere promotes transpiration. VPD between agricultural products and atmosphere was used to method of weight loss prediction [3]. Water loss of such agricultural products reduces the saleable weight and leads to decrease in farmer's income [4].…”