Storage potential of cold-hardy apple cultivars

The apple cultivars Fireside, Haralson, Honeygold, Regent, Cortland, Honeycrisp, and Delicious were harvested at up to three harvest dates in each of two years and fruit were stored for 9 months in air or controlled atmosphere (CA; 3% O₂ + 3% CO₂) storage. Fruit were sampled at harvest and at three month intervals for firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, starch concentration, fresh weight loss, and decay. Responses to CA storage were generally favorable, though variable among harvest dates and seasons, for the cultivars in this study. CA storage helped maintain the quality of 'Fireside', 'Honeygold', 'Cortland', and 'Delicious' compared to air storage. 'Honeycrisp' fruit exhibited few differences between air and CA storage for the parameters measured and quality of the fruit was maintained at a high level under both regimes. 'Haralson' fruit exhibited poor long-term storage potential, including extensive decay after nine months, and did not benefit from the CA.