HO-82-18-2 -- Principles and Effects of Hypobaric Storage of Fruits and Vegetables PDF

Hypobaric storage is the most significant breakthrough.in postharvest preservation technology since controlled atmosphere was introduced in England in the 1930's. Investigations on hypobaric storage were initiated at Michigan State University soon after Burg and Burgl disclosed the principle in 1966. Early investigations employed hypobaric ventilation as an experimental method to establish hyponormal internal ethylene levels in tissue which discerned the obligatory involvement of ethylene in numerous physiological qr~cesses including fruit ripening, leaf abscission, sex expression and flower senescence. Additionally, extensive investigations ire conducted on hypobaric storage of a wide range of fruits, vegetables and flowers. These studies have confirmed and extended Burg's hypothesis that hyponormal ethylene levels and low 02 partial pressure in this rarified environment are the factors responsible for delaying ripening and extending the storage life of fresh perishable commodities.