Pomegranate storage temperature

To maximize pomegranate quality fruit should be picked when fully ripe because they do not ripen off the tree. Pomegranate should be carefully maintained in cold storage after harvest because fruit are susceptible to chilling injury (CI). CI following exposure to temperatures below 5°C (41°F) during storage and transport for longer than 4 weeks is a major cause of deterioration during marketing. The incidence and severity of CI depends upon storage temperature, duration and cultivar (Photo 1, in the Original source, below). The minimum safe storage temperature is 5°C (41°F) for up to 8 weeks, if decay is not a problem. For longer storage, the temperature should be at 7ºC (45ºF) to avoid chilling injury, but decay (Botrytis cinerea) and weight loss may become a limitation. A postharvest application of the fungicide Fludioxonil (Scholar) is approved for use on pomegranates with a 5 ppm maximum residue limit to control decay development and prolong storage (the picture). However, pomegranates must be dipped in the fungicide solution because the botrytis spores are usually in the calyx area of the fruit, which are not adequately covered by postharvest spraying during packaging. After dipping surface moisture must be removed with a fan to eliminate free moisture on the fruit when stored in a box or bin. Under these storage conditions, pomegranates should be cooled to 7ºC (45ºF) as soon as possible after harvest and fungicide application. Fruit should be kept at 7ºC (45ºF) with relative humidity between 90-95% during storage and transportation to attain a postharvest-life longer than 8 weeks, depending on the cultivar.   Original source   Key wordsPoscosecha    postcosecha    postharvest    na-oes    ?? ??? ??????    ??    post-récolte    ???? ?? ?????????        post-raccolta    pós-colheita    ??????????????    hasat sonras?    Granada        pomegranate    granaat    ??????    ??    grenade    ????    ????    melagrana    romã    ??????    nar    ????