Ola Al-Halabi1*, Bayan Muzher1, Samer Abohamdan1, Basma Alatrach1 and Nesreen Naim 1
1 Horticulture Administration – Pome and Grapevine Division – As-Suwayda.
(*Corresponding author: Ola Al-Halabi, Email: Ola_halabi@msn.comm).
Received: 7/ 2/ 2026 Accepted: 30/ 6/ 2026
Abstract:
This investigation was achieved at Pome and Grapevine Division during 2018-2020, to evaluate storability of two apple cultivars “Grany Smith” and “Rome Beauty” under As-Suwayda conditions, using polyethylene packaging (modified atmospheric storage) in comparison with control (without polyethylene packaging). The fruits were harvested at harvest maturity, then stored at 0º c and relative humidity 75-80% for seven months, the analysis were done monthly. The results showed that using polyethylene packaging lowered weight loss significantly than control treatment of two studied cultivars, it was 1.21% and 4.35% respectively after seven months of storage, the difference between the cultivars was insignificant. After five months of storage the starch disappeared from fruits of two cultivars, and the fruit firmness was in average 6.0 kg/cm2 in the studied cultivars, then decreased to 5.5 kg/cm2 in Rome Beauty cultivar after seven months. After seven months of storage Grany Smith cultivar revealed a significant higher total soluble solid (TSS) than Rome Beauty cultivar in the two treatments (18.05% in average). On the other hand, it gave in polyethylene packaging treatment significant values for total acidity and single sugar (0.59% and 13.95% respectively). The sensory tests showed that fruits kept their high quality after five and seven months of storage, however the five months was better significantly than seven months. Consequently, it is clear the importance of using polyethylene packaging in longing life storage of the studied cultivars and keeping fruits quality indices, thus the probability of using polyethylene packaging in economic level.
Keywords: Apple, Grany Smith, Rome Beauty, modified atmospheric storage, weight loss.
Full paper in Arabic: PDF