ALTERNATIVE FOR REDUCING PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN ‘BARTLETT’ PEARS

'Bartlett' pears from different harvest dates were assessed regarding to cold storage potential and reduction of physiological disorder incidence. Three harvests, the first (HD1), second (HD2), and third (HD3), were carried out at weekly intervals. The pears were assessed after the harvest, with no exposition to the temperature conditioning, after 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 and 120 days at 0 +/- 1 degrees C and 90 +/- 5% RH and after three and six days at room temperature (20 +/- 1 degrees C). Fruit from the early harvest (HD1) showed the smallest incidence of physiological disorder during both cold and room temperature storage. The disorder symptoms became apparent in HD1 fruit after 20 days at cold storage followed by three days at 20 degrees C, whereas HD2 and HD3 fruit showed the symptoms before being kept in a cold room. 'Bartlett' pears harvested at 70.75 N flesh firmness can be stored at 0 +/- 1 degrees C for up to 40 days and preferably commercialized within three days, when they reach the firmness for eating. The extension of cold storage as well as the trade period can result in higher physiological disorder incidence and loss of sensorial quality.