Effects of Ethylene Control and Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere Storage on ‘Galaxy’ Apple Quality

This study aimed to evaluate the interaction of ethylene management in the pre- and post-harvest stages using different storage techniques on the physicochemical quality and synthesis of volatile compounds in ‘Galaxy’ apples after 9 months of storage plus 7 days at 20 °C. The conditions were as follows: controlled atmosphere (CA), dynamic controlled atmosphere monitored by chlorophyll fluorescence, and dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) monitored by respiratory quotient 1.5. Control fruit were stored under each condition without chemical treatment for ethylene management, and other parts of the fruit were treated with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) in the pre-harvest period and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in the post-harvest period. The AVG application increased flesh firmness, decreased decay incidence and physiological disorders, and increased the percentage of healthy fruit, regardless of the storage technique, due to decreased ethylene production and maturation at harvest. Most volatile organic compounds (VOCs) essential to the aroma were suppressed by 1-MCP application without increasing physicochemical quality than AVG. The CA-stored fruit had higher concentrations of important aroma volatiles, which were less inhibited by AVG than 1-MCP application. Despite the lower VOCs compared to CA, DCA + AVG produced excellent quality apples with few physiological disorders.