Quality changes in shelf-life of pyrus communis L. after different CA storage period

In this paper, the quality changes in shelf-life of Abate Fetel (Pyrus communis L.) stored for different time at controlled atmosphere (CA) with the gas volume fraction of 1.8%±0.2% O2, 0.8%±0.2% CO2 were studied. The result showed that, the changes of fruit firmness and color were significantly restrained by CA storage, compared with that in cold storage. CA storage could reduce the fruit juice extraction, starch content and ethylene production, delay the peaks of ethylene release, and restrain the rising of diastatic activities. As for the different shelf-life, the firmness, starch content and color of the fruits with 6 days of shelf-life after CA treatment changed quickly compared with the control, the fruit juice extraction, the activities of amylase and the ethylene production increased obviously. Stored in controlled atmosphere could restrain the quality decline of Abate Fetel compared with the control, and the fruits could gain the best ripeness effect after 90 days of CA storage and 8 days of shelf-life.