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Use of Modified Atmosphere Packaging with Microperforated Polypropylene Films to Maintain Postharvest Loquat Fruit Quality

Departamento Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain

M.T. Pretel

Departamento Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain

P.J. Zapata

Departamento Tecnología Agroalimentaria, Escuela Politécnica Superior Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain

M.A. Botella

Departamento Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain

F. Romojaro

Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, CSIC Campus de Espinardo 30100, Murcia, Spain

M. Serrano

Departamento Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Alicante, Spain, m.serrano{at}umh.es

Loquat fruits (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl cv. `Algerie') were stored in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), using five types of microperforated polypropylene (PP) films during 2, 4, and 6 weeks at 2 °C and for a subsequent period of 4 days at 20 °C shelf life (SL) out of the bags. Loquat fruits stored without packaging and in normal air served as control. The atmosphere composition at the steady state depended on the film permeability, ranging from 1.2 to 8.5 kPa for CO₂ and from 19.5 to 13 kPa for O₂ as film permeability decreased. Weight loss was drastically reduced by MAP conditions. Softening, color evolution, and decreases in sugars and organic acids were delayed, these effects also being evident after the SL period. Scores for visual aspect and facility of peeling were also higher for loquat stored in MAP than for controls. Taking into account results form all quality parameters, the most suitable atmosphere for loquat storage was found to be around 2—4 and 16—18 kPa for CO₂ and O₂, respectively, reached in the PA-80 and PA-60 films. In addition, the storage period for optimum loquat quality maintenance was established as 2 weeks of cold storage plus SL for control fruits, while under MAP conditions, storage periods could be extended up to 6 weeks plus SL, especially using PA-80 and PA-60 films.

Key Words: modified atmosphere packaging • films • loquat fruit • storage • sugars • organic acids • firmness • quality

Food Science and Technology International, Vol. 14, No. 1, 95-103 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1082013208089985


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