Reducing Decay in Fresh Blueberries with Controlled Atmospheres

Abstract

Freshly harvested blueberry fruit ( Vaccinium corymbosum L.) were held for 7 or 14 days at 2°C under constant atmospheres of CO 2 in air or with 2% O 2 , under 2% O 2 alone or in normal atmosphere. When the berries were removed from the controlled atmospheres and held for 3 days at 21°, the CO 2 -enriched atmospheres of 10%, 15%, or 20% significantly inhibited decay development for 1-2 days. The higher CO 2 -enriched atmospheres generally were more effective. The 2% O 2 atmosphere alone was ineffective and did not enhance the CO 2 treatment.