Effect of Storage Conditions on Storability and Antioxidant Potential of Pears cv. 'Conference'

Late pear cultivars, such as 'Conference', can be stored for a long period if kept in good storage conditions. A three-year study (2011-2013) compared the impact of six-month storage using four technologies-normal atmosphere, normal atmosphere + 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), controlled atmosphere, and controlled atmosphere + 1-MCP-on the quality parameters of 'Conference' pears, such as mass loss, firmness, total soluble solids, acidity, antioxidant capacity, and the incidence of diseases and disorders. Additionally, the study analysed different storage conditions in terms of profitability, based on the market prices for pears in the seasons during which the pears were stored. The storage conditions had a very strong influence on the fruit quality parameters, and were found to affect most visibly the mass loss and the incidence of postharvest diseases and disorders. The storage of 'Conference' pears for 180 days in normal atmosphere is not economically viable, even if the fruit is subjected to 1-MCP treatment; at the same time, it is profitable to store 'Conference' pears in controlled atmosphere for the same period, no matter whether 1-MCP was applied or not.

Automated summary

The study found that storage conditions have a significant impact on the quality parameters of 'Conference' pears, particularly in terms of mass loss and the incidence of postharvest diseases and disorders. Storing 'Conference' pears for 180 days in normal atmosphere is not economically viable, while storing them in a controlled atmosphere is profitable, regardless of the 1-MCP treatment.