Treatment with nitric oxide in controlled atmosphere storage to preserve the quality of 'Laetitia' plums

This study aims to evaluate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) treatment under controlled atmosphere (CA) on quality of 'Laetitia' plums, mainly on internal browning. The experiment followed a completely randomized design, with five repetitions and a 25-fruit experimental unit. The evaluated treatments were: control (no NO); NO at 2 mu L L-1 (low dose) applied every 5 days of storage; NO at 5 mu L L-1 (medium dose) applied every 5 days of CA storage; and NO at 10 mu L L-1 (high dose) applied only at the beginning of CA storage. The treatments with NO in CA storage did not delay the loss of flesh firmness and compression force of the fruit. Treatments with NO reduced ethylene production and respiratory rates and delayed the skin color evolution, especially when applied at medium dose every 5 days of CA storage and high dose at the beginning of CA storage. The treatment with low dose of NO every 5 days of CA storage was the most effective to reduce the internal browning of 'Laetitia' plums.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the effect of nitric oxide (NO) treatment under controlled atmosphere (CA) on the quality of 'Laetitia' plums. The results show that applying NO helps delay the skin color evolution of the fruit, especially when applied at medium dose every 5 days and high dose at the beginning of CA storage.