TREATING PRIMOFIORI LEMONS IN COLD-STORAGE WITH INTERMITTENT WARMING AND CARBON-DIOXIDE

Several intermittent 13C warming treatments were applied to 'Primofior i' lemons (Citrus limon Burn) stored at 2 or 8C. Fruit stored at 13C w ere treated with 10%, 20%, or 30% CO2 for 24 hours at weekly intervals . Reduction in decay and physiological disorders was best with two cyc les of 2 weeks at 2C and 2 weeks at 13C and relative humidity >95%. Un der this storage condition, soluble solids concentration, pH, titratab le acidity, and reducing sugars did not change relative to values at h arvest, but the concentration of ascorbic acid increased and that of n onreducing sugars decreased in relation to harvest values. Carbon diox ide treatments did not prevent the development of alternaria (Alternar ia citri Ell. & Pierce) rot and red blotch disorder, but effectively p revented the development of membranosis, rind pitting, and oleocellosi s.