Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Texture of Iranian Apple “Golab Kohanz”

Hajizadeh, H.S., Mostofi, Y., Talaie, A., and Ebrahim, Z.M.
Agricultural College, Department of Horticultural Science, Karaj, Iran

Ethylene as a plant hormone plays a major role in senescence and loss of fruit quality and shelf life of apples and makes the fruits unacceptable for consumption. Modified atmosphere packaging can control the respiration rate of product through a decrease in O2 and increase in CO2 levels. In order to maintain quality and increase the storage life of ‘Golab Kohanz’ apple an experiment was conducted in split factorial design with four replications.

Treatments were three different storage temperatures (1, 4 and 25 °C); gas combinations with two levels (2% CO2 - 3% O2 and 4% CO2 -1% O2) and two types of polymeric films (polyethylene and polypropylene). The tissue firmness, TSS, EC, pH, TA, TSS/TA, and relative humidity and rate of ethylene production were measured and estimated every 14 days.

The results showed that ethylene production rate at 1°C was lower and the packed fruit under 1°C with gas combination of 1% O2- 4% CO2 and polypropylene film maintained TSS, TA, TSS/TA and tissue firmness values compared with the other treatments. Fruit pH and TSS/TA increased and TSS, TA decreased during storage. Changes in quality factors occurred at a slower rate in treatments compared with controls.

The results indicated that modified atmosphere packaging has led to extension of storability and retardation of softening rate in fruit compared with controls.