title: Low oxygen treatment prior to cold storage decreases the incidence of bitter pit in 'Golden Reinders' apples.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The effect of subjecting 'Golden Reinders' apples to a low O(2) pre-treatment (LOT; 1-2% O(2)) was evaluated as a strategy to decrease the rate of bitter pit (BP) incidence after standard cold storage (ST). Immediately after harvest, apples were stored for 10 days at 20 degrees C under low O(2). Thereafter, apples were cold-stored (0-4 degrees C) for 4 months and changes were monitored in terms of BP incidence, fruit quality traits and mineral element concentrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 4 months cold storage, LOT apples presented a 2.6-fold decrease in the rate of BP incidence (14%) versus the values obtained for standard cold-stored fruits (37% BP incidence). LOT increased flesh firmness, total soluble solids and titratable acidity as compared to the quality traits determined for cold-stored fruits. Lower cortex Ca and Mg concentrations as compared to ST apples were determined in association with LOT, 2 months after cold storage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Application of a LOT prior to cold storage may be a promising strategy to reduce the incidence of BP and preserve fruit quality, which should be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Estación Experimental de Aula Dei-CSIC. Avda Montañana 1005, 50059-Zaragoza, Spain. jval@eead.csic.es
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Val
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Jose María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Peiró
authors.forename: Alvaro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blanco
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005638:Fruit / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism*; D027845:Malus / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium