This study was carriec oul in two growing seasons. 1999 and 2000. to
investigate the effect of foliar application of potassium (0, 200. 400 and 600 ppm) and
size of package (polystyrene trays of 250 and 500 capacities. over - wrapped with
transparent pliofilm sheets) on the quality of Sugar peas (cv. Toledo). during cold
storage for different periods of time (At harvest. 8 and 16 days). The obtained results
indicated that spraying peas plants with potassium yielded peas pods that suffered
high losses in both fresh weight and moisture content during storage, compared to
control. though the differences among treatments appeared insignificant. However.
the detected losses were in proportion to the used concentration of potasslorn.
Chlorophyll contents increased also as a result of potassium foliar application.
especially at 600 ppm. Peas pods of better quality during storage. as perceived from
the low percentages of culls. were obtained due to potassium-sprayings. regardless of
the insignificant differences among potassium treatments. The scores of consumer
preference were enhanced due to the application of potassium. Reducing sugars were
the highest in peas pods as a result of spraying with potassium at 200 ppm; white 600
ppm increased significantly non - reducing and total sugars. The storage resutted in
slight losses in both fresh weight and moisture content of pods. However, the
magnitudes of such losses fell within the accepted range that did not seriously affect
the pods' quality. a result that was supported by the obtained scores of consumer
preference. along with elapsmq time of storage. In addition. losses in chlorophylls
were slight. but significant in the second season after 16 days of storage. The great
deal of the total losses was incident in the first period in both seasons. i.e .. 81.8% and
67.12%. respectively. Reducing and non - reducing sugars decreased with storage
and most of the reductions were incident in the flrst term of storage as well. Packaging
the peas pods in trays. generally. conserved both losses in fresh weight and moisture
content at minimal. especially in the small-sized trays. Both types of packages did not
significantly differ from one another in conserving the pods' chlorophyll contents as
well as the consumer preference. The small- sized pacKage enhanced retaining the
reducing and total sugars better than in the large - sized ones; but both packages did
not affect pods' total sugars content.