Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #142358
Title: PACKAGE FILM OXYGEN TRANSMISSION RATE AFFECTS POSTHARVEST BIOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY OF FRESH-CUT CILANTRO

Author
item Luo, Yaguang - Sunny
item McEvoy, James
item Wachtel, Marian
item KIM, JI GANG - VISIT SCI, KOREA
item HUANG, YUN - VISIT SCI, PR CHINA

Submitted to: Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/12/2002
Publication Date: 8/4/2002
Citation: Luo, Y., Mcevoy, J.L., Wachtel, M.R., Kim, J., Huang, Y. Package film oxygen transmission rate affects postharvest biology and microbiology of fresh-cut cilantro. Annual Meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Experiments were conducted to develop a modified atmosphere packaging system for fresh-cut cilantro (Coriandrum sativum L.) leaves, and to determine the effect of package film oxygen transmission rate (OTR) on postharvest physiology and quality of the product. Package film OTR significantly (P<0.001) influenced the package atmospheres and the resultant postharvest physiology and quality of fresh-cut cilantro leaves during cold storage (0°C). Oxygen and CO2 levels of the packages prepared with 3500 OTR films equilibrated at 1.5-2.3kPa and 3.6-4.1kPa, respectively, on day 3 and maintained this level throughout the storage. The gas compositions of the packages with 6200 OTR films showed a similar trend, except equilibrated at a higher O2 (3.6-5.6kPa) and lower CO2 (2.7-3.3kPa) level. Fresh-cut cilantro leaves in both packages exhibited the highest tissue integrity as evidenced by the lowest tissue electrolyte leakage, with high overall visual quality scores ("like moderately" to "like very much") at the end of 14 days storage. However, atmospheres in 1700 OTR film packages displayed a rapid depletion of O2 and accumulation of CO2, with essentially no O2 (~0.02kPa) and high CO2 (7.7-9.0kPa) levels inside the packages from day 6 until the end of storage. A rapid increase in tissue electrolyte leakage was observed on cilantro leaves in these packages starting on day 6, increasing 6-fold at the end of the storage period. Products in these packages developed a strong off-odor, accompanied by a rapid loss of typical aroma and overall visual quality, with an unacceptable rating at the end of storage ("dislike slightly"). Samples packaged in perforated bags lost moisture over time, and small numbers of wilted leaves were seen. There was a slow but significant (P<0.001) increase in aerobic organisms over time with no significant (P<0.05) difference among treatments. There was an increase in anaerobic microorganisms on cilantro leaves packaged in 1700 OTR film, although only ~0.5 log cfu·g-1 difference was observed among the treatments and over time.