Table 1. Oxygen, carbon dioxide, temperature and important notes for storage of common Ontario apple cultivars.
Cultivar | O2 (%) | CO2 (%) | Temperature (°C) | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ambrosia | 1.2 – 1.5 | 1 – 1.2 | 0.5 – 1 | Slow cooling or conditioning necessary with 1-MCP <1% O2 possible with fruit monitoring (via DCA, etc.) |
Cortland | 1.5 – 2.5 | 1.5 – 2 | 0.5 – 2 | Higher temp with 1-MCP Sensitive to CO2 |
Crispin/Mutsu | 1.5 – 2.5 | 1.5 – 2.5 | 0 – 0.5 | — |
Delicious (Red) | 1 – 2 | 1 – 2 | 0 – 0.5 | <1% O2 possible with fruit monitoring |
Empire | 1.5 – 2 | 1 – 1.5 | 2 | Extremely sensitive to CO2 Keep CO2 <0.5% for 1st month if not treated with DPA |
Fuji | 1 – 2 | 0.5 – 1 | 0 – 1 | Sensitive to CO2 Delay CA 5-6 weeks with 1-MCP |
Gala | 1 – 1.2 | 0.5 – 1 | 0.5 – 2 | Higher temp with 1-MCP Extreme regional differences <1% O2 possible with fruit monitoring, very tolerant to low O2 |
Golden Delicious | 1.5 – 2 | 1 – 2 | 0 – 1 | Slow stepwise cooling with 1‑MCP <1% O2 possible with fruit monitoring |
Granny Smith | 1.5 – 2 | 0.5 – 2 | 0 – 1 | <1% O2 possible with fruit monitoring |
Honeycrisp | 2 – 3 | 1 – 3 | 3 (after conditioning at 10°C for 5-7 days) | Delay CA for 1st month if not treated with DPA Extremely sensitive to CO2 |
Idared | 1.5 – 2.5 | 1.5 – 2.5 | 0 – 1 | — |
Jonagold | 1.5 – 2.5 | 1.5 – 2 | 0 – 1 | Higher temp with 1-MCP |
McIntosh | 2.5 | 2 for 1st month, then 4.5 | 3 | Sensitive to CO2 with 1-MCP |
Northern Spy | 1.5 – 2.5 | 1.5 – 2 | 0 – 0.5 | Sensitive to CO2 |
Spartan | 2 – 3 | 2 – 2.5 | 0.5 – 1 | — |
Updated and adapted in part from:
DeEll, J.R. 2020. Pome fruits: Apple quality and storage, p. 293-298. In: M.I. Gil and R. Beaudry (eds). Controlled and Modified Atmosphere for Fresh and Fresh-cut Produce. Elsevier Academic Press, United Kingdom.
Jennifer DeEll
OMAFA Fresh Market Quality Specialist