Effects of low oxygen and high carbon dioxide on tomato cultivar 'Bermuda' fruit physiology and composition

Breaker stage tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill., cultivar 'Bermuda') were treated in air, 0.5% or 1.0% oxygen (O-2) in nitrogen (N-2) or 80% carbon dioxide (CO2) in air for 1, 3, 5 or 7 days at 22 degrees C, A 1 day low O-2 treatment delayed ripening after treatment by 1-2 days compared to a ripening period of 4 days for the control; elevated CO2 for 1 day had no effect on ripening after treatment, Low O-2 increased production of ethanol and acetaldehyde compared to the control and high CO2. Fruit treated for 3 or more days in low O-2 or high CO2 showed skin injury and blotchy ripening. Disease incidence increased with treatment time, but could be controlled in 1 day treatments by reducing relative humidity to about 70%, Firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and pH of pericarp and gel of 1 day treated fruit were not different from the control.