DE202007011850U1 - Apparatus and system for monitoring and regulating transport, maturation and storage conditions for horticultural products - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for monitoring temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure of an environment for storage, transport and / or maturation of horticultural products (10), comprising:
- means (12) for irradiating electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength (λ1) with a first intensity (I1) and at least one second wavelength (λ2) with a second intensity (I1) on the surface of at least one horticultural product (10) at least two different times (t1, t2), wherein the first wavelength (λ1) and second wavelength (λ2) differ from one another,
- means (14) for measuring the intensity (I1 ') of the first wavelength (λ1) and the intensity (I2') of the second wavelength (λ2) of the at least one horticultural product (10) scattered and / or reflected electromagnetic radiation,
- means (16) for determining absorption and / or scattering of the electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength (λ1) and the second wavelength (λ2) in the at least one horticultural product (10) from the irradiated and measured intensities (I1, I1 ', I2 , I2 ') to the at least two ...

Description

The The present invention relates to a monitoring device and a system for monitoring and regulation of storage conditions for horticultural products, In particular, the present invention relates to a device for continuous monitoring and a system for continuous monitoring and regulation of storage conditions for horticultural products.

Along the supply chain with fresh products is in production the maturity development of the perishable horticultural products of quality imaging Importance.

The Adjustment of the climate, the atmosphere and if necessary addition of additives during transport as well as the subsequent preservation, storage or maturation is essential for the quality preservation and safety of fresh food.

For example finds ripening on immature harvested bananas and mangoes the fruits held in ripening rooms while other mellow (climacteric) fruits due to the composition the atmosphere, the climate and possibly additives such as 1-methylcyclopropene in their Development are inhibited.

Low Temperatures reduce the metabolic activity of the product as well as the Microbial pressure, lead but from a critical value to cold damage to the living product. The ambient atmosphere The products have also been around for about 40 years (increasing trend also with transports), in particular, the oxygen partial pressure has complex effects the product has. A "low" concentration inhibits turn the microbial pressure. About that addition, the endogenous production of ethylene (maturity and aging phytohormone) and the respiration rate is reduced. From one However, fermentation processes are of critical value in the metabolism or anaerobic respiration as an alternative to oxygen utilization as a terminal Electron acceptor instead. this leads to possibly to the total failure of the products.

When product-sparing alternative, the temperature is unfavorable Case set too high or the atmosphere with, for example, not set sufficiently low oxygen partial pressure. Both Avoidance strategies have a premature aging of the products and diminished inhibition of microorganism growth.

In order to achieve an appropriate adjustment of the climate and the atmosphere in fruit or ornamental plant transports as well as the subsequent preservation or storage, so far only parameters based on the environmental conditions for the control of climate and atmosphere in the containers or chambers were available. The setpoint values for the control are determined based on general experience with the product to be transported and monitored with temperature, CO ₂ , oxygen, and humidity sensors.

aim It is in any case, the products at the point of sale to an optimal Mature condition available to have. changes of the product in the mostly gas-tight closed transport containers as well as, for example, in banana ripening chambers or storage cells modified the atmosphere could not be recorded so far. Horticultural, living products However, they are very heterogeneous and change beyond that even while storage. The risk of using static characteristics lies in an improper control the atmosphere and a concomitant loss of quality until total failure.

One interactive system, what changes of the fruit ripening stage in the process of dynamic adaptation of the Environmental conditions would be therefore a decisive improvement for quality management in the supply chain of horticultural products. To do this however, sensitive, non-destructive Sensors needed.

A Device for the sensitive detection of the physiological reaction horticultural products is described in the patent application WO 02/006795 A2 described. This becomes a common method in plant physiology used for the measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence. The method is in the case of short-term, reducing conditions by the Lack of the terminal electron acceptor (oxygen) and the following Electron pressure in the photosynthetic chain (end product inhibition) sensitive. In the medium term However, if necessary, a restoration of the initial value can occur.

adversely on the device disclosed in WO 02/006795 A2 is therefore that long-term changes detected by the maturity development only with low sensitivity can be. Furthermore can only products with intact photosystems are analyzed.

Of the The present invention is therefore based on the object, a device for monitoring the maturity development and to control the maturity development horticultural To specify products that have a simple structure and a comparatively high sensitivity regarding long-term changes the maturity development compared to the prior art has.

These The object is solved by the features of the protection claim 1. preferred Embodiments of the invention are contained in the subclaims.

The inventive device for monitoring of temperature and / or partial pressure of oxygen (possibly gas-tight closed) environment for storage, transportation and / or Maturation of horticultural products has a means of irradiation of electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength a first intensity and at least one second wavelength having a second intensity on the surface at least one horticultural product of at least two different ones Times (but preferably continuously or continuously), being the first wavelength and second wavelength differ from each other. Furthermore, a means for measuring the intensity the first wavelength as well as the intensity the second wavelength the scattered from at least one horticultural product and / or provided electromagnetic reflected radiation. aid a means for determining absorption and / or scattering of electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength and the second wavelength in at least a horticultural product from the irradiated and measured intensities at least two different times, the temporal change the characteristic absorption of carotenoids (or flavonoids) and chlorophylls as well as the texture - related scattering properties in the horticultural product at different wavelengths can be determined.

The first wavelength (preferably 400-690 nm - refers focus on the main intensity the excitation radiation, of course the excitation light source can also radiation of other wavelength ranges emit) is selected according to the invention such that There is a characteristic absorption of carotenoids (or flavonoids and chlorophylls) in the horticultural product, i. the temporal change the intensity the first wavelength the scattered from at least one horticultural product and / or reflected electromagnetic radiation allows conclusions about the composition and possibly content of carotenoids (or flavonoids and chlorophylls) and thus conclusions a possible Adjustment of temperature and oxygen partial pressure to achieve an optimal maturation process too. The second wavelength (preferably 740-830 nm) serves as a reference measurement, in which usually no characteristic absorption of carotenoids (or flavonoids and chlorophylls) in the horticultural product to either undesirable To be able to eliminate variations in the scattering properties or this for the analysis of product changes to use with. In the latter case, an arrangement with a light injection and at least two detectors with different lateral distances chosen for injection.

Preferably has the means for irradiating electromagnetic radiation at least one light emitting diode, halogen lamp, flash lamp and / or laser diode on. Preferably, the means for irradiating electromagnetic radiation a first excitation light source whose maximum radiation density in the range of 400-690 nm and a second excitation light source whose maximum radiation density is in the range of 740-830 nm is located.

Particularly preferably, the intensity of the radiation for measuring the absorption and / or the intensity of the radiation for measuring the reference wavelength is higher than the light quenching by the horticultural product (sum of μ _a (absorption coefficient) = 0.1-3.0 cm ^-1 and μ _s (scattering coefficient) = 0.1-8.0 cm ^-1 ). The intensity of the radiation for measuring the absorption and / or the intensity of the radiation for measuring the reference wavelength is particularly preferably between 101% and 200% of the light extinction by the horticultural product.

Preferably measures the device continuously and / or continuously, wherein the time interval between two consecutive measurements less than 20 minutes. Preferably, the means for measuring the intensity the first wavelength as well as the intensity the second wavelength a camera, a photodiode, a photodiode array, a photomultiplier and / or a spectrophotometer. Preferably, the means for the determination of absorption and / or scattering as well as the agent for determining a differential amount of current temperature and optimum temperature and / or a differential amount of current Oxygen partial pressure and optimal partial pressure of oxygen one Data processing unit and / or a processor.

Preferably are the means for radiating electromagnetic radiation and the means for measuring the intensity by a sensor or by an integrated sensor is formed. Preferably, the sensor has a means of suppression from extraneous light.

Preferably, the sensor has a means for gentle support of the sensor on the horticultural product. Particularly preferably, the means for gentle support of the sensor on a circumferentially shaped, elastic region which is adapted to conform to a surface of the horticultural product. The dimensions of such an elastic range depend on the particular horticultural product. The elastic The area terminates the surface in a light-tight manner and thus prevents temporal ambient light fluctuations, which can lead to a falsification of the measurement results.

Preferably forms the circumferentially formed, elastic area (in on the horticultural Product fitted state) a protected by external light radiation cavity, within which the means for radiating electromagnetic Radiation and the means for measuring the intensity are arranged. Preferably, the means for irradiating electromagnetic radiation and the means for measuring the intensity are arranged such that the measuring point or measuring range for measuring the intensity of the first wavelength as well the intensity the second wavelength at a first point or in a first area on the surface of the horticultural product and the irradiation of the excitation radiation at a second point or in a second area on the surface of the horticultural product takes place. Preferably, the distance is from first point or first range to second or second Range between 0.1 mm and 30 mm (more preferably between 5 mm and 23 mm and more preferably between 10 mm and 18 mm). In evaluation the scattering properties are preferably at least two detectors at different lateral distance to the light source or still more preferably, two light sources at different lateral distances arranged to the detector. The maximum distance is here (preferred) 30 mm.

The inventive device for monitoring and adjustment of temperature and / or partial pressure of oxygen sealed environment for storage, transport and / or for maturing horticultural products has a device for monitoring of temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure after at least one the aforementioned features, and in addition a means for determining of temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure in the completed Environment for storage of horticultural products, and a means of Adjustment of the optimal temperature and / or the optimal oxygen partial pressure in the enclosed environment for storage, transportation and / or for maturation of horticultural product, on. This makes it possible for the change the content of carotenoids (or flavonoids and chlorophylls) due to determine the absorption measurement and from this conclusions on the maturity behavior of horticultural produce, and temperature and / or Regulate oxygen partial pressure accordingly.

During the Storage and sometimes occur in stress reactions material and structural changes on the harvested product. Carotenoids (or flavonoids) are built up, Chlorophyll degraded and the scattering or absorption properties of plant tissue change measurable. With the device described above or the one described above System becomes the detection of endogenously increasing electron pressure in the absence of the terminal electron acceptor oxygen as well as in maturation and aging due to the well-known detection of native Continuously monitored pigment levels and the results for one dynamic adaptation of postharvest conditions to the physiological Product condition used.

For this the absorption of the pigments is measured at their specific wavelengths as well as with another wavelength, where neither significant absorption nor significant re-emissions occur referenced. The analysis takes place in a geometry for remission measurement.

One Sensor head according to the invention preferably consists of 1-6 excitation light sources (preferably LEDs) that emit at different wavelengths. As a detector For example, serves a silicon-based photodiode. A microprocessor system preferably processes the data. The results are preferably over BUS system displayed on a display and stored electronically.

In Repeated measurements will cause deviations, for example It compares to autocorrelation and it gets on increasing stress and Mature, senescence processes closed.

there is a continuous recording of pigment levels from the group the chlorophylls and / or carotenoids (and / or flavonoids) on one Harvest product by means of at least one light source and at least a detector, possibly a BUS system for measuring value acquisition more as a harvested product; a recognition of changes maturity, aging and continuous reading and output as a percentage value relative to the initial state performed; and continue to integrate the results into the dynamic adjustment of postharvest conditions (preferably control of Temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure).

The The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments:

It demonstrate:

1 a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for monitoring and adjustment of temperature and / or oxygen savings tialdruck a gas-tight sealed environment for storage, transport and / or maturation of horticultural products,

2a a schematic representation of a sensor head according to the invention in plan view,

2 B a schematic, sectional view of a sensor head according to the invention, which has been placed on an apple for measurement, together with a detector system;

3a . 3b 2 is a schematic, sectional view for illustrating the measuring principle according to a preferred embodiment, in which the excitation and detection regions are spatially offset,

4 . 5 illustrate examples of measured value deviations at different fruit temperatures, the intensities of the recorded wavelengths being combined into the characteristic values NDVI (660 and 780 nm) and NAI (525, 570 and 780 nm),

bei 2°C, sowie 30 genussreife Äpfel (eingelagert am 27.11.2005) in einem CA-Lager

und weitere 30 Äpfel in einem Kühllager (- – -) wiederholt gemessen wurden, 6 illustrates the influence of the harvest date and storage conditions on the decrease in the measured value of the apple variety 'Elstar', where 30 pickled apples (stored 10/10/2005) in a CA storage (...) with reduced oxygen partial pressure and elevated CO ₂ concentrations and another 30 apples in the cold store

at 2 ° C, and 30 ripe apples (stored on 27.11.2005) in a CA warehouse

and another 30 apples in a cold store (- - -) were measured repeatedly

7 a schematic representation of a portable system for monitoring and adjusting temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure of a sealed environment for storage, transport and / or maturation of horticultural products,

8th illustrates the influence of the harvest time of bananas (weeks after flowering) on the kinetics of maturity development in a ripening chamber, measured continuously with the sensor system according to the invention,

9 illustrates the influence of Papayareifezustandes on the further maturation rate at 17 ° C measured by the system according to the invention, and

10 illustrates the deviation of the container interior temperature from the optimum for the transported goods and recorded with the sensor system according to the invention changes in the measured values for feeding into the temperature control.

The precise Determination of the maturity course is in the apple cultivation and the Nachernteprozessen a significant factor in quality production and assurance. Enable established methods the random instrumental determination of maturity-dependent fruit properties e.g. with the strength index and the Magness-Taylor pulp firmness. The purely visual Appraisal of the maturity development on the tree is mainly about the Evaluation of the basic color possible and serves as a frequently used one Criterion for the date of the harvest. In the closed warehouse can medium term changes not be recognized. changes the green Basic color occur in the apple by maturation-dependent changes in the chlorophyll content on. The decrease of the green Fruit pigments leads to a lightening of the base color. Advantage of the visual evaluation the basic color is the possibility close to the process / online to have results available without the fruits in time-consuming Analyzes and only by means of small samples. significant Disadvantages are subjectivity and the lack of data storage.

• – die Möglichkeit, schnelle, prozessnahe und objektive Messungen des Fruchtchlorophylls durchzuführen,
• – die reifebedingte Abnahme des Chlorophyllgehaltes auch in roten Mutanten messbar zu machen, bei denen die Grundfarbe visuell durch die Deckfarbe maskiert ist,
• – den zeitlichen Reifeverlauf durch wiederholte Messungen an denselben Früchten mit einer objektiven Methode am Baum aufzuzeichnen und somit einen Vergleichsdatensatz für folgende Jahre zu erarbeiten, und
• – den Einfluss der Vorerntebedingungen auf die Haltbarkeit und Lagereigenschaften der Produkte festzustellen und in einer Steuerung der Lagerbedingungen für deren dynamische Anpassung zu nutzen.

The non-destructive determination of fruit chlorophyll changes based on the spectral analysis is described below. Here, the specific light absorption of the fruit chlorophyll and the carotenoids and possibly flavonoids is evaluated. Advantages of the method are above all:

• - the ability to perform fast, process-oriented and objective measurements of fruit chlorophyll,
• - To make the maturity-related decrease in the chlorophyll content measurable even in red mutants in which the base color is visually masked by the top color,
• - to record the maturity history by repeated measurements on the same fruits using an objective method on the tree and thus to develop a comparison data set for the following years, and
• - determine the influence of pre-harvest conditions on the shelf life and storage characteristics of the products and use them in a control of storage conditions for their dynamic adaptation.

From the fruit data according to the invention characteristic values for the chlorophyll and carotenoid content are calculated independently of the visually visible covering color pigments. At the Werder site, meaningful data could already be obtained on differently colored varieties within 4 years. Clearly visible are differences between the years. Especially in the warm, low-rainfall years 2003 and 2006, a decrease of the chlorophyll content, measured as an index from the measured light intensities, was observed earlier in 2004 and 2005 by about 2 weeks. The data of the fruit respiration showed that the picking maturity actually occurred earlier in these years. It has been shown that non-destructive pigment analysis is suitable for the measurement of fruit development on trees. The data on fruit ripeness during storage can already be used for the decision to market the apples.

in the embodiment was harvested on two dates, with picking at the first appointment reached and on the second date the Pflückreife already exceeded was. During storage measurements were made on a total of 450 apples.

The device according to the invention is in 1 shown schematically. In a storage room 5 are horticultural products (not shown). In the 2a and 2 B closer shown sensors 4 are placed at different locations in the storage cell on fruits (not shown). The sensor 4 is over cable 3 and a BUS system with other sensors 4 connected and the results to a central unit 16 . 18 transfers. For example, it can compare the measurement result over several intervals via autocorrelation, and a change on a display in the case of pronounced deviations 1 at the storage cell 5 be signaled.

3a and 3b illustrate the possible light paths in the tissue in the remission measurement with an irradiation and a detection site ( 3a ) and an irradiation site and detection at two path lengths ( 3b )

4 and 5 illustrate examples of measured value deviations at different fruit temperatures, wherein in the embodiment with λ1 = 660 nm and λ2 = 780 nm was measured and NChll is defined by as a quotient of (I ₇₈₀ -I ₆₆₀ ) and (I ₇₈₀ + I ₆₆₀ ) (I ₆₆₀ = Intensity at λ1 and I ₇₈₀ = intensity at λ2).

In the exemplary embodiment, the harvesting date had a clear influence on the initial value, whereby at the later date a maturity-reduced NChll value was already determined ( 6 ). This coincides with the results previously shown from the measurements during fruit development on the tree. The changes in the NChll during storage showed significant differences between the measurement dates in the cold store. By contrast, only minor changes were noted in the CA warehouse, despite the fact that it was opened once. Especially in cold storage, the relatively faster change in overripe harvested fruits became apparent. The method is therefore sensitive to changes in the bearing and can thus be used for on-site monitoring of the fruits in the warehouse.

In a further embodiment, the use of the device according to the invention in a banana ripening chamber is illustrated ( 7 ). A sensor 4 . 14 consists of a silicon-based (sensitivity in the wavelength range 200-1100 nm) detector (photodiode) and a light source, which is equipped with four emitters. in 7 is exemplified the use of two equal and an unequal LED. It will be in an LED with 4 Emitters Measurements of the chlorophyll and carotenoid content and the scattering properties realized in remission mode. Direct irradiation of the emitted light into the detector is avoided by sealing with, for example, sponge rubber. LED assignments such as L1 at 525, 630, 690, and 800 nm and L2 at 470, 525, 690, and 800 nm were also tested with good results.

The System represents a self-sufficient, portable unit that only outside the chamber over a cable from the display unit connected to a power outlet becomes. Fixed installations at the chamber are not necessary since residue removable adhesive fasteners for cables and display unit can be used.

8th shows the influence of the harvest time (weeks after flowering) on the kinetics of maturity development in a ripening chamber, continuously (continuously) measured with the sensor system according to the invention.

In a further embodiment, the use of the device according to the invention for the papaya transport is illustrated. In transport containers, tropical papaya fruits are transported. Variety and maturity levels strongly influence the tolerance range of the fruits to the environmental conditions as well as the speed of further fruit ripening ( 9 ). A static setting, for example, the temperature can thus hardly be optimal. With the aid of the novel sensor system, changes in the oxygen partial pressure and unfavorable temperature control can be detected. The comparatively unfavorable conditions influence the pigment synthesis or its degradation, for which characteristic values are recorded with the sensor system. By means of autocorrelation, jumps in the measuring signal can be measured on the fruit ( 10 ) and entered as characteristic value in the control.

1

display

2

horticultural product

3

data cable

4

sensor head

5

airtight Storage chamber for horticultural product

6

protection against ambient light

7

medium for applying the sensor to the horticultural product

8th

grid

9

detector

10

horticultural product

12

medium for irradiation of electromagnetic radiation / LEDs

14

medium for measuring the intensity / photodiode

16

medium for the determination of absorption and scattering / evaluation unit

18

medium for determining a difference amount of temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure / evaluation unit

20

medium for the determination of temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure / temperature sensor and / or oxygen sensor

22

medium for setting the optimum temperature and / or the optimum Oxygen partial pressure / heating / cooling / oxygen regulator

30

tissue horticultural product / fruit tissue

31

power supply

32

excitation radiation

33

detection range

34

Another detection range

Claims (20)

Apparatus for monitoring the temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure of an environment for storage, transport and / or maturation of horticultural products ( 10 ), comprising: - means ( 12 ) for irradiating electromagnetic radiation of a first wavelength (λ1) with a first intensity (I1) and at least one second wavelength (λ2) with a second intensity (I1) on the surface of at least one horticultural product ( 10 ) at least two different times (t1, t2), wherein the first wavelength (λ1) and the second wavelength (λ2) differ from each other, - means ( 14 ) for measuring the intensity (I1 ') of the first wavelength (λ1) and the intensity (I2') of the second wavelength (λ2) of the at least one horticultural product ( 10 ) scattered and / or reflected electromagnetic radiation, - means ( 16 ) for determining the absorption and / or scattering of the electromagnetic radiation of the first wavelength (λ1) and the second wavelength (λ2) in the at least one horticultural product ( 10 ) from the irradiated and measured intensities (I1, I1 ', I2, I2') at the at least two different times (t1, t2), - means ( 18 ) for determining a difference amount of current temperature and optimum temperature and / or a difference amount of current oxygen partial pressure and optimum oxygen partial pressure from the temporal change of the determined absorption and / or scattering of the at least one horticultural product ( 10 ) with respect to the electromagnetic radiation of first wavelength (λ1) and second wavelength (λ2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the first wavelength (λ1) in Range of 400-690 nm and / or the second wavelength (λ2) in the range from 740-830 nm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 12 ) for the irradiation of electromagnetic radiation at least one light emitting diode, halogen lamp, flash lamp or laser diode has. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the means ( 12 ) for irradiating electromagnetic radiation, a first excitation light source whose maximum radiation density in the range of 400-690 nm and / or a second excitation light source whose maximum radiation density is in the range of 740-830 nm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intensity of the excitation radiation is higher than the light erasure through the horticultural product is. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device is repeated and / or continuous measures. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the device measures continuously, wherein the time interval between two consecutive measurements smaller than 20 minutes. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 14 ) for measuring the intensity (I1 ') of the first wavelength (λ1) and the intensity (I2') of the second wavelength (λ2) comprises a camera, a photodiode, a photodiode array, a photomultiplier and / or a spectrophotometer. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 16 ) is designed for the determination of absorption and / or scattering by a data processing unit. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 18 ) is designed to determine a difference amount of current temperature and optimum temperature and / or a difference amount of current oxygen partial pressure and optimum oxygen partial pressure by a data processing unit. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 12 ) for irradiating electromagnetic radiation and the means ( 14 ) are designed for measuring the intensity by a sensor or by an integrated sensor. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the sensor has a means for suppressing extraneous light. Device according to at least one of the claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the sensor is a means for has gentle application of the sensor on the horticultural product. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that that the means for gentle support of the sensor a circumferential having a shaped, elastic region which is suitable for itself to a surface to adapt to the horticultural product. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the circumferentially formed, elastic region in the patch on the horticultural product state forms a protected by external light radiation cavity, within which the means ( 12 ) for irradiating electromagnetic radiation and the means ( 14 ) are arranged for measuring the intensity. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means ( 12 ) for irradiating electromagnetic radiation and the means ( 14 ) are arranged for measuring the intensity such that the measuring point or measuring range for measuring the intensity (I1 ') of the first wavelength (λ1) and the intensity (I2') of the second wavelength (λ2) at a first point or in a first region takes place on the surface of the horticultural product and the irradiation of the excitation radiation takes place at a second point or in a second region on the surface of the horticultural product. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that that the distance from the first point or first area to the second Point or second range is between 0.1 mm and 30 mm. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that that the distance from the first point or first area to the second Point or second range is between 5 mm and 23 mm. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that that the distance from the first point or first area to the second Point or second range is between 10 mm and 18 mm. Device for monitoring and adjusting the temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure of a gas-tightly sealed or closable environment for storage, transport and / or maturation of horticultural products ( 10 ), comprising: - means ( 20 ) for determining temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure in the closed environment for storage of horticultural products ( 10 ), - a device for monitoring temperature and / or oxygen partial pressure according to any one of claims 1-19, and - means ( 22 ) for setting the optimum temperature and / or the optimum oxygen partial pressure in the closed environment for the storage, transport and / or maturation of the horticultural products ( 10 ).