INFLUENCE OF VACUUM INFILTRATION WITH CALCIUM CHLORIDE ON OXYGEN DISTRIBUTION IN APPLE FRUIT FLESH

Authors:	N.C. Rajapakse, E.W. Hewett, N.H. Banks
Abstract: Vacuum infiltration with calcium chloride has been shown to reduce storage disorders of many fruit crops (Scott and Wills, 1977; 1979). However, vacuum infiltration can create an additional gas diffusion barrier due to the solution uptake and therefore, can create unfavorable gas concentrations in the internal atmosphere of fruits. Hewett and Thompson (1989) reported that vacuum infiltration with CaCl₂ increased the internal CO₂ level compared to untreated fruits in Cox's Orange Pippin apples. They also reported that the development of brown-heart like symptoms, a physiological disorder caused by injurious levels of CO₂, was higher in fruit that were vacuum infiltrated and placed in polybags than in non vacuum-treated fruit stored in polybags or vacuum treated fruit stored in air. Alteration of gas diffusion characteristics by vacuum infiltration has implications for long term storage of fruit particularly if controlled/modified atmosphere (CA/MA) techniques are employed. The present investigation was undertaken to determine the influence of vacuum infiltration with CaCl₂ on gas diffusion within apple flesh tissues.
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