Redistribution of minerals in apple fruit during storage: The effect of storage atmosphere on calcium concentration

Calcium concentrations in median transverse sections of Cox's Orange Pippin apples stored at 4°C in either air or 1.25% oxygen (< 0.3% carbon dioxide) were measured at weekly intervals for 25 weeks. Large fluctuations of calcium concentration occurred in all zones of fruit from both stores throughout storage. The low oxygen atmosphere had little effect on the concentration of calcium in the cortex and redistribution of calcium from the core zone to the outer zones other than causing a decline in calcium concentration in the peel towards the end of storage when calcium concentration was generally rising in the peel of the air‐stored fruit. The results are discussed in relation to the suppression of calcium deficiency disorders by low oxygen storage and to earlier experiments on calcium redistribution and bitter pit development.