Firmness. Firmness of the fruit slices generally decreased after 3 days of storage and
then increased after 7 days of storage before decreasing again with advancing period of
storage, except for slices held in air or 3% O2 in which firmness increase continued after 10-
14 days of storage (Figure 1). High CO2 was more effective than low O2 in maintaining
firmer slices during the first 7 days of storage. Among low O2 treatments, only the 1%
atmosphere effected higher firmness than that of slices stored in air. After 10-14 days of
storage, slices kept in air had increased firmness indicating tissue hardening.
Physiological Changes