Changes in dry matter concentration gradients in stored apples

Longitudinal and transverse dry matter concentration gradients were measured in Cox's Orange Pippin apples at harvest and during storage. Dry matter concentration was higher at the calyx end of the fruit at harvest than in the central zone and at the stalk end. This difference was maintained as dry matter concentration in the whole fruit declined during cold storage. Dry matter concentration decreased from the peel to the core in median transverse slices at harvest but this gradient diminished during storage at 4°C in either air or 1·25%v/v O2. After 11 weeks' storage dry matter concentrations became generally lower in all zones of the air‐stored fruit than those in apples stored in 1·25% v/v O2, but transverse distribution patterns of dry matter were similar in apples in either regime throughout storage. Proportions of dry matter in the outer zones declined whilst those in the inner cortex and core increased. The relevance of these changes to the quality of stored apples is discussed.