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Brian Park

Mrs. Stevens & Mrs. Radcliffe

Life Science

13 January 2017

How Do Containers Affect the Aging of Process of Apples?

Did you know that apples ripes 6~10 times faster if you store it in the refrigerator? There

are a lot of things that affect the aging of apples. For example, it can be temperature, and

humidity. Surprisingly, you can also speed up the process of ripening apples. If you put your

apples in the refrigerator and on the kitchen counter, then the apples on the kitchen counter will

grow faster because I learned that fruits in lower temperatures grow faster.

Why Do Fruits Ripen? What Happens Chemically to Cause Ripening?

Growing tissue produces ethylene. Ethylene makes enzymes ripen. Also, Fruit can ripe by

controlling ethylene sign. When fruit is ripening, chlorophyll is broken down (Publications).

Another reason that fruits ripe is hormone. A Hormone that causes most fruits to ripen is

biosynthesized ethylene. The hormone also caused the plant to make seeds. It is produced by all

kinds of plants (What).

How Does Temperature Affect the Aging Process of Apple?

Apples in lower temperature grow faster than higher temperatures. On the other hand, if

apples are in higher temperatures, it will spoil faster. Proper storage conditions are a temperature

near 32F. It is important because a steady temperature during storage is important for maximum

storage life (Jauron). The ripening may not be completed if you dont storage them well. Too

much cold or heat makes essential enzymes active. And if enzymes are inactive, you wont be

able to eat that fruit. Fruits are reproductive organs (Storage).

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How Does Air Exposure Affect Ripening Speed?

Apples turn brown when exposed air. And it is for defend itself. To defend itself, the

apple built defense mechanisms to defend itself from bacteria and fungus. When you cut apples,

it damage apples cells. If it damaged the apples cells, enzymes in the cells are being exposed to

oxygen. Enzymes react to oxygen creating an oxidized. It provides protection against foreign

bodies. If the apples are put in water, it will slow the chemical reactions (Hiskey).

How Does Light Affect How Fast Apples Ripen?

Light doesnt directly affect fruits ripening. And fruit doesnt need light to ripen. Fruits

ripe if the light results in a favorable temperature. Heat produced by intense light. The fruit will

have to be discard. To prevent discarding fruit because of light, it will have to put fruit in the

refrigerator. Putting fruits indoors are suggested. If the fruit is not riped, put it in a paper bag and

place them in a cupboard or pantry (Gomez).

How is it Recommended to Store Apples? Why?

To speed up the ripening, store the apple in a paper bag with a banana (Publications).

Apples should be kept in a cool place and kept away from heat and fire. If you put apples in a

refrigerator, the apples will keep for 3~4 weeks. The best temperature for storing apples is 30-

35F. Apples should be in a humid environment. Every 10 degrees above 30F, apples lifespan

decreases. According to Judy Cohen, my interviewer, one bad apples affect the whole other

apples (Cohen). Apples temperature must not be below 30F, because its going to freeze

(Durand).

How Do You Accurately Measure the Speed at Which Fruits Ripen?

Color is an indication of maturity. Mature apples separate easily from the tree. The apple

that has brown seeds is ripe. Ripen apples taste better than other apples. It is softer than other
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apples. Healthy apples drop to the ground from the tree. Count the number of days since the tree

has bloomed. Unripe apples turn black and ripe apples remain white if you put iodine

(Pickyourown).

If you put your apples in the refrigerator and on the kitchen counter, then the apples on

the kitchen counter will grow faster because I learned that fruits in lower temperatures grow

faster. At the beginning of the writing, I talked about a lot of things that affect the aging of

apples. There are temperature, humidity, and air. I think many people should know this

information so that they can store their apples well. A ripe apple is a tasty apple.

Works Cited

Cohen, Judy. "How Do Containers Affect the Aging of Apples." Personal interview. 14 Dec.

2016.

Durand, Faith. "How To Store Apples for the Winter." The Kitchn. Eat Cheap: Farmstands in the

Country, 06 Nov. 2008. Web. 03 Nov. 2016. <http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-store-

apples-for-the-wi-68778>.

FruitGuys, By The. "Fresh Fruit Storage and Ripening Tips." Fruit Delivery. TheFruitGuys, 2

July 2014. Web. 03 Nov. 2016. <http://fruitguys.com/almanac/2012/07/02/fresh-fruit-

storage-and-ripening-tips>.

Gomez, Cynthia. "Does Light Affect Ripe Fruit?" EHow. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 07 Nov.

2016. <http://www.ehow.com/info_8724265_light-affect-ripe-fruit.html>.

Hiskey, Daven. "Why the Insides of Apples Turn Brown When Exposed to Air." Today I Found

Out. N.p., 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 04 Nov. 2016.

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<http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/04/insides-apples-turn-brown-exposed-

air/>.

Jauron, Richard. "Harvesting and Storing Apples and Pears | Horticulture and Home Pest News."

Harvesting and Storing Apples and Pears | Horticulture and Home Pest News.

Department of Horticulture, 23 Aug. 2006. Web. 05 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2006/8-23/apples_and_pears.html>.

"PickYourOwn.org." Apple Ripeness: How to Tell When Apples Are Ripe and Ready to Pick

from Your Apple Trees. Pickyourown, 7 Nov. 2016. Web. 07 Nov. 2016.

<http://pickyourown.org/apples_howtotellwhenripe.php>.

Publications, Inc. Ogden. "What Makes Fruit Ripen?" Grit. Jennifer Nemec, 29 Apr. 2008. Web.

05 Nov. 2016. <http://www.grit.com/departments/what-makes-fruit-ripen>.

"Storage Temperatures for Fresh Produce." Storage Temperatures for Fresh Produce. Frontline

Services, 2015. Web. 06 Nov. 2016.

<http://www.frontlineservices.com.au/Frontline_Services/Storage_temperatures_for_fres

h_produce.html>

"What Happens When Fruits Ripen? - Geekswipe." Geekswipe. KARTHIKEYAN KC, 08 Nov.

2015. Web. 05 Nov. 2016. <https://geekswipe.net/science/biology/what-happens-when-

fruits-ripen/>.