Author
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Wang, Chien |
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Submitted to: International Congress for Plastics in Agriculture
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 8/4/1997 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Chilling injury increases postharvest losses of chilling-sensitive crops. Chilling injury also prevents chilling-sensitive commodities from taking advantage of refrigeration to maintain their quality and prolong their storage life. We have found that packaging of cucumbers with plastic films can alleviate chilling injury. The reduction of chilling injury is probably related to the high humidity and modified atmosphere within the film package. We have also found that packaging with polyethylene films could maintain higher levels of sugars and organic acids in cucumbers, thus, result in better storage quality. This research is beneficial to produce industry and the consumers. Technical Abstract: The use of modified atmosphere packaging is beneficial in reducing chilling injury of some horticultural crops. Packaging with plastic films helps to maintain high relative humidity and modify the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmospheres surrounding the commodity. The prevention of chilling injury by film packaging is likely related to these factors. The reduction of water loss from chilling-sensitive tissues under high relative humidity inhibits the collapse of epidermal and underlying cells, thus preventing the development of pitting and other blemishes. In some commodities, the reduction of chilling injury by film packaging is attributed largely to the modification of microenvironment within the package. Low oxygen and high carbon dioxide concentrations in the package not only can alleviate chilling injury but also can suppress the respiration rates and maintain better storage quality of the commodities. |
