DCA storage to better retain the green background color in Conference pear

Green background color is a major quality attribute of Conference pear (Pyrus communis) determining its commercial value. Proper controlled atmosphere storage can slow down yellowing of the fruit peel for several months. 

A storage experiment was carried out in which Conference pears, harvested in September 2024, were stored in normal CA conditions of 3 kPa O2 and 0.7 kPa CO2 as well as dynamic atmosphere conditions. 

When normal CA conditions were reached, the oxygen concentration was allowed to further decrease based on RQ-values measured on the whole storage volume. As long as RQ values were below 1.3 oxygen concentrations were decreased. When RQ values increased to 1.3 or above oxygen concentration was increased again. 

At harvest and after 4 and 8 months of storage shelf life tests were carried out at 18°C. 

The background color was measured using a Minolta color meter as CIE Lab values 5 times spread over 14 days. 

Besides these experiments in lab conditions, trials in an industrial setting were carried out. Color was measured during shelf life after harvest and after 3 months storage in CA followed by 2 months in DCA.

Results 

The results of the lab experiments showed that the green background color of Conference pear was better retained when stored in DCA conditions compared to classical CA storage. 

It was observed that in the industrial trial it was more difficult to reach lower oxygen conditions mainly because the rooms were not air tight enough. However, significant lower oxygen conditions than normal CA conditions were reached resulting in better quality retention.

Sources

Dynamic Controlled Atmosphere (DCA) storage of Conference pear retains background color better than normal CA storage 
Hoang Minh Phan, Bert Verlinden, Maarten Hertog, Pieter Verboven & Bart Nicolai
CAMA 2025, XIV International Conference on Controlled and Modified Atmosphere Research, held in Wenatchee, Washington, USA, May 18-22, 2025, https://cama2025.com

Picture, 
La Vanguardia, Hada Macià, ¿Por qué se apellida 'conferencia' este tipo de pera?
https://www.lavanguardia.com/comer/materia-prima/20221008/8558859/por-que-apellida-conference-conferencia-tipo-pera.html