Postharvest Physiology and Storage - Tropical and Subtropical Fruits: Postharvest Physiology, Processing and Packaging - page 26

Table 2.5. Recommended storage conditions for selected tropical and subtropical fruits.

Temperature ( ◦ C) Fruit % RH O 2 (kPa) CO 2 (kPa)

Avocado 4-13 85-90 2-5 3-10

Cashew apple 0-2 or 5-8 85-90

Banana 12-16 90-95 2-5 2-5

Breadfruit 13-15 85-90 2-5 5

Cantaloupe, mature 0-2 95

Cherimoya 8-12 90-95 2-5 3-10

Date 0 75 Air 10-20

Fig 0 85-90 5-10 15-20

Grapefruit 10-15 85-90 3-10 5-10

Guava 8-10 90 5-8 5

Honeydew melon 7-10 90-95

Jackfruit 13 85-90

Kiwifruit 0-5 90-95 1-2 3-5

Lemon and Lime 10-15 85-90 5-10 5-10

Litchi 5-12 90-95 3-5 3-5

Loquat 1-5 90 4-10 1-5

Mandarin 5-8 95

Mango (for insect control) 10-15 90-95 ≤ 0,5 ≥ 50

Mango (for transportation) 10-15 90-95 3-5 5-10

Mangosteen 13 85-90 3-5 5-10

Muskmelon 5

Olive 5-7.5 90-95 2-3 0-1

Orange 5-10 85-90 2-3 0-5

Papaya (for insects control) 7-13 85-90 ≤ 0,5 ≥ 50

Papaya (for transportation) 7-13 85-90 5-10 5-8

Passion fruit (yellow) 7-10 85-90

Pineapple 7-13 85-90 2-5 5-10

Plantain 12-16 90-95

Pomegranate 5-10 90-95 3 6

Rambutan 8-15 90-95 3-5 7-12

Sapote 10-15 85-90 5 5

Starfruit 5-10 85-90 2.2-4.2 8-8.2

Tangerine 4 90-95

Watermelon 10-15 90

Source: Gross et al. (2002); McGregor (1987); Velasquez (2006); Yahia (2009).

storage period is extended, irreversible damage occurs. In
most of the cases, symptoms are not visible, until the fruit
is brought to warmer temperatures (Wang, 1990).
Chilling injury causes have been associated to malfunc-
tion of cell membranes which results in alteration of prod-
uct respiration rate and ethylene synthesis, biochemical and
compositional changes, skin depressions, dark spots or pits,
surface and internal discoloration, water-soaked tissues,
failure to ripen, and accelerated senescence of the fruit

(Couey, 1982; Morris, 1982; Brown, 1986; Wang, 2004;
Glenn et al., 2005).
Rayson and Orr (1990), and Morris and Brady (2005)
suggested that damage occurs in phases: primary response
to temperature is physical resulting in of membrane alter-
ations, followed by physiological changes with an increase
in calcium concentration, changes in thermosensible en-
zyme activity and specificity, and reduction of protoplasm
movement.