COMPARING THE FUNCTION OF PERFORATED AND NON-PERFORATED FILM IN MODIFIED-ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING: IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF BROCCOLI

A wide range of steady-state O₂ partial pressures (0.1 to 18 kPa) was obtained in perforated and non-perforated packages composed of low density polyethylene (LDPE) film at 0 and 10°C for the storage of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica). Half of the broccoli was treated for 24 h at 10°C with 1 ppm 1-MCP prior to storage.
The combinations of steady-state O₂ and CO₂ partial pressures achievable depended on whether the film was perforated or not.
The regression fitting the O₂ versus CO₂ headspace data for non-perforated packages was linear with a negative slope such that for every 4 kPa decrease in O₂, there was a 1 kPa increase in CO₂. The curve fitting the data for perforated packages was also linear and negative, but steeper, such that for every 4 kPa decrease in O₂, there was a 4 kPa increase in CO₂. The result was that for a given steady-state O₂ concentration, the CO₂ concentration was higher in the perforated package compared to the non-perforated packages.
For florets stored at 10°C, the higher CO₂ in the perforated packages resulted in higher visual quality and better color retention was significantly better than in the non-perforated packages for packages with O₂ levels greater than approximately 2 kPa.
There was no effect of the elevated CO₂ for the florets stored at 0°C. 1-MCP application only had a small positive impact on floret quality at 10°C and no effect at 0°C. The data suggest that combination of both perforated packages and 1-MCP application on broccoli florets may have the potential to provide some protection against rapid quality loss when the storage temperature exceeds the recommended 0°C.

IX International Controlled Atmosphere Research Conference

F. Vallejo, R.M. Beaudry

1-methylcyclopropene, steady-state oxygen, respiratory quotient, ethanol, total phenolics, chlorophyll, storage, temperature

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2010.857.63