Effects of air flow rate, storage temperature, and harvest maturity on respiration and ripening of tomato fruits.

The interactive effects of aeration rate, storage temperature, harvest maturity, and storage duration on respiration and ripening of tomato fruits (Lycopersicum esculentum var. Roma) were studied. Slow aeration rate strongly reduced the climacteric but did not affect ripening. Low temperature slowed ripening and reduced respiratory rates, but low temperature did not delay attainment of the climacteric maxima. The effect of air flow rate on the content of CO(2) in the fruits' internal atmospheres was investigated. The possibility that CO(2) is not the primary cause of respiratory inhibition under slow air flow rate is discussed.