Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Regional Station, Mukteshwar 263 138, Uttaranchal
*Corresponding author's present address: CISH, Rehmankhera, Lucknow 227 107.
**Central Institute of Temperate Horticulture, Srinagar 190 005.
Physiologically mature fruits of apple cultivars Prima, Rich-a-Red, Oregon Spur, Hardi Spur, Gold Spur and Starkrimson were harvested and assessed for their physico-chemical changes during storage under ambient condition (15 to 20 ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% RH). In general, gradual decrease in the firmness occurred during first 14 days of storage but thereafter showed considerable reduction in fruit firmness by softening of tissues particularly in Starkrimson and Gold Spur. The ascorbic acid and acidity content rapidly decreased upto 14 days and thereafter slowly constant upto 35 days of storage in all the cultivars. The levels of reducing sugars sharply increased upto 21 days of storage in Gold Spur, Oregon Spur and Starkrimson. The changes in the levels of non-reducing and total sugars also showed a rapid increase in all the cultivars. However, the increase was more prominent after 28 days of storage in Hardi Spur and Gold Spur. Similar trends were also recorded for sugar/acid and TSS/acid ratio. The levels of total soluble solids rapidly increased in all the cultivars. The sharp increase in TSS content was noticed in Starkrimson after 7 days and continued upto 14 days of storage.
Storage, ambient conditions, cultivars, apple, storage behaviour
