EFFECT OF ETHYLENE ABSORPTION ON THE STORAGE OF
GRANNY SMITH APPLES HELD IN POLYETHYLENE BAGS

Granny Smith apples grown in Western Australia are highly susceptible to the physiological disorders, bitter pit, and superficial scald, after short periods of storage.  Granny Smith apples were held in sealed polyethylene bags with and without an ethylene absorbent.  In two seasons the ethylene levels were markedly reduced with the use of potassium permanganate while the severity of bitter pit and superficial scald were also reduced.  These effects of ethylene removal may be due to the delay of fruit senescence.

 Source:

A.J. Shorter, CSIRO Division of Horticulture, St. Lucia, Qud., Australia

K.J. Scott, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of New South Wales

G. Ward, Western Australia Department of Agriculture

D.J. Best, CSIRO, IAPP Biometrics Unit, Food Research Laboratory