ReTain® maintains 'Pink Lady' fruit quality during long term storage

'Pink Lady' apples were harvested from two growing regions (South Australia and Victoria) and at two harvest maturities (early and late). Fruit were treated with aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG, ReTain®) at two different times in the orchard (7 and 21 days before harvest). Fruit were harvested according to maturity and stored at 0°C in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage (2% O 2 and 1% CO 2 ) or regular air storage. Fruit quality (internal ethylene concentration, firmness, background colour, starch, soluble solids content) were assessed at two monthly intervals for up 10 months storage. Fruit were subject to a two week shelf life at 20°C after six months storage. All air stored fruit were removed at six months storage. The ReTain® treatment significantly reduced ethylene production across all treatment and storage regimes, compared to the untreated control. Ethylene production was also lower in the ReTain® treatments during the 14 days shelf life at 20°C after six months storage. Flesh firmness (measured by penetrometer) was generally higher in the fruit stored in CA and in the ReTain® treated fruit. This effect was maintained during the entire storage period. The results show that the preharvest application of ReTain® on 'Pink Lady apples can be a useful tool for managing harvest and ensuring postharvest fruit quality after both air and CA storage.