Nitric oxide in controlled atmosphere storage of ‘Eragil’ peaches

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) application under controlled atmosphere (CA), at different doses and times during storage, on the maintenance of postharvest quality of ‘Eragil’ peaches. Treatments with 5 and 10 µL L⁻¹ NO were applied at the beginning (B), beginning and end (B+E), and beginning, middle and end (B+M+E) stages, in addition to applications every 15 days of storage. Experiments were carried out in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons. Application of 5 µL L⁻¹ NO B + E resulted in lower incidence of decay, woolliness, and browning, as well as reduced fruit respiratory rate. Regarding ethylene production, higher emission was observed in the control treatment in the first season, whereas in the second season the highest values occurred in the 5 µL L⁻¹ NO B + E and 5 µL L⁻¹ NO B + every 15 days treatments. NO treated fruits showed less yellowish background color, with 5 and 10 µL L⁻¹ NO applied at B + E standing out. Application of NO during storage in CA, at a dose of 5 µL NO in B + E, resulted in fruits with superior qualities, mainly more resistant to decay and chilling injury.