- 3 



bananas in large polyethylene bags, evacuate the bags and seal 

 them for shipment. Inadequate control of the atmosphere results 

 in some fermentation due to exhaustion of 0, 

 efits have been sizeable. 



but the overall ben- 



T.G. White (Oxytrol Division) and J.R. Lugg (Trans-Fresh Cor- 

 poration) discussed their companies' commercial units for atmospher- 

 ic modification of truck and rail units. Mr. Lugg noted that over 

 6,000 transportation units (trucks and railroad cars) are now 

 equipped for atmospheric modification, and this number will soon 

 increase by 50%. This equipment is used for both transcontinental 

 and overseas shipments. It is apparent that much of the produce 

 coming from the West Coast is already being carried under modified 

 atmospheres, and that the proportion will rise rapidly. 



An interesting point noted in this session is that the Tectrol 

 Division of Whirlpool Corporation is no longer making generators 

 for CA storages. Their patents have been sold to a Japanese com- 

 pany, and it is anticipated that this company will, in the not-too- 

 distant future, begin to produce generators. The Trans-Fresh Cor- 

 poration is, however, an outgrowth from Tectrol and it builds gen- 

 erators, but solely for transit vehicles. 



A half day of the conference was devoted to discussion of com- 

 mercial CA requirements and recommendations for various crops. 

 Numerous researchers presented findings which added up to the fol- 

 lowing. Of the many commodities that have been tested, only apples, 

 pears, and bananas are established as being highly responsive to 

 CA. For apples, 3% O2 and 2.5-5% CO2 (depending on variety) are 

 recommended. For pears, 1% O2 and 5% COp are recommended for fruits 

 harvested at an early (and desired) maturity. Ones harvested at a 

 late maturity are very susceptible to internal browning when ex- 

 posed to CO2, so they should be held at 1% O2 and 0% COg. 



F.M. Isenberg (Cornell) presented his results on storage of 

 cabbage, which show that cabbage responds very well to 1% 0^ and 5% 

 COp. However, wide variation in response existed among hybrids, and 

 at Cornell they are currently selecting genetic lines which respond 

 well to CA. 



R.E. Anderson (USDA, Maryland) reported that peaches and nec- 

 tarines could be stored with some benefit under 1% Op and 5% CO 

 but that storage time was limited to 6 weeks for peaches and 9 

 for nectari nes . 



weeks 



Tests with such crops as grapes, citrus, tropical fruits, pota- 

 toes, sweetpotatoes , tomatoes, sweet corn, and cantaloupes, as well 

 as with numerous kinds of flowers, have resulted in no commercial 

 recommendations due to poor or highly variable results. A prelim- 

 inary and very cautious recommendation of 2% O2 and 20% CO2 was 

 made for strawberries by G.J. Stadelbacher (Maryland), but this 

 must be considered as a preliminary recommendation. It is apparent 

 that only a limited number of commodities are suitable for CA stor- 

 age, at least with current CA techniques. 



