EXTENDING STORAGE OF APRICOTS

Apricots grown in Israel are predominantly of one cultivar, Canino, and, although there are 2 weeks difference in ripening in different areas, the marketing season is relatively short. To extend this marketing season, orchard manipulations to delay harvest, and the use of controlled atmosphere (CA) storage were investigated. The limiting factors of apricot storage are the development of gel breakdown and internal browing in the mesocarp. Gel breakdown, where the mesocarp becomes translucent and gelatinous, can develop in the orchard but is aggravated by cold storage. With internal browning all the mesocarp can become discolored.