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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Quality and Safety Assessment Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269458
Title: Postharvest color and texture retention in organic Chinese red raspberry and sea-buckthorn fruit during modified atmosphere storage

Author
item BARTH, M - Responsible Source
item Zhuang, Hong
item LI, J - Harbin Veterinary Research Institute
item SONG, W - Harbin Veterinary Research Institute
item ZHAO, L - Harbin Veterinary Research Institute
item LU, W - Harbin Veterinary Research Institute

Submitted to: Acta Horticulture Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2011
Publication Date: 4/1/2012
Citation: Barth, M.M., Zhuang, H., Li, J., Song, W., Zhao, L., Lu, W. 2012. Postharvest color and texture retention in organic Chinese red raspberry and sea-buckthorn fruit during modified atmosphere storage. Acta Horticulture Proceedings. 945:45-50.

Interpretive Summary: Color and texture are among the key quality attributes for fresh whole produce. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) along with cold chain management has been shown to support retention of whole produce color and texture during storage and distribution. We investigated the effects of packaging films on retention of quality attributes of fresh Chinese organic red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruit from northeast China. Our results show that packaging films with different oxygen transmission rates (160 mL oxygen/100in2.24h.1atm and 525 mL of oxygen per 100 square inches per 24 hrs per atmosphere) significantly modified atmospheric composition inside the fruit packages, and improved color retention of red raspberry fruit at 2 through 5 days compared with non-MAP packaging. MAP also retained fresh fruit texture characteristics cohesiveness and springiness for red raspberry fruit. No differences were noted for sea-buckthorn fruit texture and color lightness and yellowness between MAP and non-MAP control. These results demonstrate that MAP can retain color and texture of Chinese, organic raspberry over storage, and can be considered as an alternative postharvest technique for storage and distribution of fresh raspberry fruit.

Technical Abstract: Color and texture are among the key quality attributes for small fruit. Postharvest approaches such as modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) along with cold chain management have been shown to support retention of fruit quality during handling and distribution. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of various modified environments on retention of quality attributes of Chinese organic red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and sea-buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) fruit from northeast China. Berry fruit samples were harvested, cooled and sorted for quality prior to being weighed into vented clamshell containers and placed into three experimental groups: 160 OTR bags, 525 OTR bags, or air control and stored over 10 days (10C). Atmospheric composition inside the packages was confirmed by headspace analysis, and retention of fruit quality attributes was measured by color (L*, a*, b* values), texture (cohesiveness, springiness), total soluble solids (TSS), pH, and moisture content at regular intervals (0, 2, 5, 10 days). Our results showed O2 content was ~2% at steady state conditions inside the 160 OTR trays for both raspberry and sea-buckthorn fruit. However, the O2 levels inside the 525 OTR trays were 12% for raspberry and higher for sea-buckthorn (16%). CO2 levels were similar inside the 160 OTR trays for both fruit (18-20%), however slightly lower in the 525 OTR sea-buckthorn trays (4% vs. 5%). Improved color retention was shown in MAP-stored raspberry fruit at 2 through 5 days. Better retention of cohesiveness and springiness characteristics were observed in MAP -treated raspberry fruit with slightly better results noted in the lower OTR samples. No differences noted for sea-buckthorn fruit texture. MAP treatments resulted in improved moisture retention and lower TSS vs. control in both fruit over storage, but no important pH differences observed. Overall results show that MAP supports retention of important quality attributes of Chinese, organic raspberry and sea-buckthorn fruit over storage and can be considered for supporting commercial distribution.