Articles
UV-C light preserves quality of minimally processed watermelon cylinders
Article number
1151_43
Pages
279 – 286
Language
English
Abstract
Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is usually minimally processed as cubes, edge-cut damage being a remarkable defect.
To avoid such disorder, processing as cylinders and using UV-C as sanitizing tool can be an interesting alternative to preserve quality during shelf life.
The effect of UV-C radiation on overall quality, microbial growth, phenolics content and lycopene concentration of watermelon cylinders (2.7 cm ɸ) of several lengths (1, 2, 4 and 8 cm) were analyzed.
After harvesting, fruits were washed (150 µL L-1 NaClO), precooled and processed at 8°C. Once removed the skin, fruits were manually cut as cylinders, exposed to 4.79 kJ UV-C m-2 and packaged in polypropylene packages under passive modified atmosphere.
UV-C untreated cylinders were used as control.
After 7 days at 5°C, O2 partial pressure was higher for the longest cylinders (17.9 kPa for 8 cm vs. 14.2 kPa for 1 cm) with the lowest CO2 partial pressure (3 kPa for 8 cm vs. 7.4 kPa for 1 cm), indicating a higher respiration rate for the smaller sizes.
A better sensory quality in 8 cm cylinders for both, control and UV-C treated, was observed.
However, microbial growth was better controlled and phenolics content better maintained (60-80 mg CAE kg-1 fw) in UV-C treated samples.
Lycopene content did not significantly decrease in any treatment.
As conclusion, watermelon minimally processed as cylinders pretreated with 4.79 kJ UV-C m-2 can be stored for up to 7 days at 5°C without noticeable quality changes.
To avoid such disorder, processing as cylinders and using UV-C as sanitizing tool can be an interesting alternative to preserve quality during shelf life.
The effect of UV-C radiation on overall quality, microbial growth, phenolics content and lycopene concentration of watermelon cylinders (2.7 cm ɸ) of several lengths (1, 2, 4 and 8 cm) were analyzed.
After harvesting, fruits were washed (150 µL L-1 NaClO), precooled and processed at 8°C. Once removed the skin, fruits were manually cut as cylinders, exposed to 4.79 kJ UV-C m-2 and packaged in polypropylene packages under passive modified atmosphere.
UV-C untreated cylinders were used as control.
After 7 days at 5°C, O2 partial pressure was higher for the longest cylinders (17.9 kPa for 8 cm vs. 14.2 kPa for 1 cm) with the lowest CO2 partial pressure (3 kPa for 8 cm vs. 7.4 kPa for 1 cm), indicating a higher respiration rate for the smaller sizes.
A better sensory quality in 8 cm cylinders for both, control and UV-C treated, was observed.
However, microbial growth was better controlled and phenolics content better maintained (60-80 mg CAE kg-1 fw) in UV-C treated samples.
Lycopene content did not significantly decrease in any treatment.
As conclusion, watermelon minimally processed as cylinders pretreated with 4.79 kJ UV-C m-2 can be stored for up to 7 days at 5°C without noticeable quality changes.
Publication
Authors
P.A. Gómez, P.A. Robles, A. Tomás-Callejas, M. Otón, F. Artés, F. Artés-Hernández
Keywords
Citrullus lanatus, fresh-cut, postharvest, lycopene, phenolics
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