Response of controlled atmosphere (CA) stored "Golden Delicious" apples tothe treatments with alcohols and aldehydes as aroma precursors

"Golden Delicious" apples were stored under ultra low oxygen (ULO-storage) and treated both at han est time and after 5 months of storage with several aroma precursors. Another plot of fruits was sprayed on the tree with an e thylene inhibitor (AVG) to study the effect of ethylene biosynthesis on vol atile production. ULO-storage caused a marked reduction on the ability of f ruit to produce volatiles. Feeding these fruits with several alcohols and a ldehydes as aroma precursors, stimulated the biosynthesis of volatiles. Eac h alcohol and aldehyde led to an enhanced production of the corresponding v olatile, mainly esters. Similar to ULO-storage, AVG reduced the production of volatiles and this effect was accentuated during the storage of these fr uits: in ULO. Treating AVG-fruit with aroma precursors also led to a marked increase in the production of the corresponding volatiles. With ULO stored as well as with AVG-treated fruits, the effect of precursor treatment on v olatiles was transient lasting, in general, not more than 2 days.