Hardenburg (23) and Workman (79) showed that it was not necessary to use 
sealed liners to prevent shriveling of Eastern-grown Golden Delicious, The top 
of the film liner could be merely folded over the apples to maintain a high 
humidity, or perforated liners could be used. After 6 months' storage at 31° F. 
in boxes with polyethylene liners, Golden Delicious were still in good condition 
with negligible shriveling and only about l-percent weight loss. Results of 
storage tests with Golden Delicious in polyethylene box liners over a 7-year 
period were reported by Hardenburg and Anderson (28). Tindale (73) states that 
in Australia many growers prefer to use a single sheet of polyethylene to line 
sides and bottom of boxes, but not at the ends. The sheet is then merely folded 
over the fruit at the top and the humidity stays high and reduces shriveling of 
Jonathan and other varieties. 
Effect on Moisture Loss and Shriveling 
Film box liners can be extremely effective in minimizing loss of mois=- 
ture, thereby preventing shriveling in storage, They have been widely evaluated 
for this effect qd, 3; 4, 8, 10, 16, l/, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 28, 22), 31, 34, 
Schomer (68) reported that Golden Delicious packed in cell-packed corrugated 
cartons with polyethylene liners kept much better than without liners, because 
loss of moisture to the cartons was reduced, Without film liners moisture loss 
averaged 5 to 6 percent after prolonged storage at 31° F. With film liners, 
moisture loss was not over 2 percent. Under more severe conditions, Dana (8) 
reported 11.8 percent moiture loss after storing Golden Delicious 4 months with- 
out polyethylene liners, 4.1 percent in film with 100 perforations, and 0.7 per- 
cent in nonperforated sealed liners. 
Polyethylene may also be used as bulk-box liners, bulk=box covers, or 
pallet covers over 24 to 36 field boxes to prevent moisture loss from apples 
(9, 29, 55). Individual 1.5-mil polyethylene liners in field boxes or in cor- 
rugated cartons were more effective than 2-mil pallet covers in preventing 
shriveling of Golden Delicious (29). However, film pallet covers over field 
boxes prevented serious shriveling and offered the advantage of lower cost than 
individual box liners plus ease of application after precooling. 
Polyethylene can largely prevent shriveling of any apple variety, but 
Golden Delicious is a variety with a skin texture that loses moisture most 
readily. Other varieties that shrivel and sometimes benefit from storage in 
polyethylene are Secor, Golden Russet (8), Red Steele (9), Jonathan (31, 48, 
50, 58), Laxton's Superb (10), Stayman Winesap (18), Turley (81), and Yates 
(51) » 
Effect on Decay, Breakdown, Scald, and Other Disorders 
There have been many conflicting reports on the effect of film liners on 
decay, breakdown, and scald on various varieties. Padfield (58) in New Zealand 
has not recommended liners even for Golden Delicious because of physiological 
disorders and the possibility of off-odors. The high relative humidity main- 
tained within liners does make conditions ideal for growth of decay microorgan- 
isms, especially if apples are not from clean orchards, are not precooled, or 
are not stored at optimum temperatures. Workman (79, 80), Ryall and Uota (64, 
65), Hardenburg and Anderson (27, 28), Gerhardt (16), Gerhardt and Schomer (17), 
Duvekot (10), and Ulrich and Leblond (77) found that sealed polyethylene liners 
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