Production of Ethanol, Acetaldehyde, and Methanol by Intact Oranges During and After Nitrogen Storage1

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Abstract
Endogenous volatiles emanating from intact navel oranges were measured by gas chromatography during and after N2 storage. The longer the oranges were held in N2 the greater was the rate of volatile production, both in N2 and after the fruit were returned to air. Ethanol was the predominant volatile emanating from oranges during N2 storage. The rate of ethanol production progressively increased in N2 storage and decreased when the oranges were returned to air. The rate of acetaldehyde production increased slightly in N2 storage and increased markedly to a maximum 2 to 4 hr after the oranges were returned to air, and then rapidly declined. The rate of methanol production increased in N2 storage and declined slightly when the oranges were returned to air. Oranges held 2 hr in N2 returned to pre-treatment volatile production rates after several days in air but those held for longer periods in N2 did not return to pre-treatment rates. All oranges held in N2 20 hr at 38° C or 3 or more days at 20° developed rind injury after the fruits were returned to air.

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