PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHANGES OF PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS STEMS UNDER PASSIVE AND SEMI-ACTIVE MODIFIED ATMOSPHERES PACKAGING

The young, rapidly growing flattened stems or cladodes of the prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.), known in Spanish as “nopalitos”, are commonly consumed in Mexico as a vegetable.
In our work we have assessed the effect of packaging nopalitos in passive and semi-active MAP with CO₂ initial partial pressures of 20, 40 or 80 kPa at 5°C. Passive MAP (where no CO₂ was added) had an atmosphere of up to 8.9 kPa O₂ and 7 kPa CO₂ after 35 days of storage.
Semi-active atmospheres with initial CO2 pressures of 40 or 80 kPa increased the losses in texture, weight, chlorophyll content, dietary fiber content and color.
Passive MAP and semi-active MAP with 20 kPa CO₂ significantly decreased the losses in the above-mentioned parameters, and also decreased the microbial counts (total aerobic mesophiles (AeM), mold and yeasts), but slightly increased the total anaerobic mesophiles (AnM) counts.
Therefore, fresh prickly pear cactus stems can be stored for up to 32 days in MAP with &#8804 20 kPa CO₂ without significant losses in quality nor any significant increase in microbial counts.

VI International Congress on Cactus Pear and Cochineal

J.C. Guevara Arauza, E. Yahia

chlorophyll, chlorophyllase, fiber, microorganisms, Opuntia ficus-indica

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.811.8