EFFECT OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING ON QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF BROCCOLI FLORETS

Mohamed, M. E.; Ragab, M. E.; El-miniawy, S. M.; El-Bassiouny, Rawia E. I.

doi:10.21608/jpp.2012.84875

EFFECT OF ACTIVE AND PASSIVE MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING ON QUALITY ATTRIBUTES OF BROCCOLI FLORETS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Postharvest and Handling of Vegetable Crops Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

² Dept. of Horticulture, Fac. of Agric., Ain Shams Univ., Shoubra El-Kheima, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/jpp.2012.84875

Abstract

The experiment was carried out during the two seasons of 2008 and 2009 on broccoli F₁ Hybrid Sakura to study the effect of two packaging materials and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on quality attributes of broccoli florets stored at 0^oC and 95% RH for 16 days.
Broccoli florets packed in polypropylene film showed the highest intensities of freshness, greenness, and compactness and had less off-odor as compared with those stored in polyethylene bags. There were no differences in weight loss between broccoli florets stored in the different packaging materials.
Florets packed in active MAP retained their weight during storage as compared to those in passive MAP. The optimum gas composition of MAP tests for maintaining quality of broccoli florets during storage was 5% O₂ + 10% Co₂.
Off-odor was not observed in broccoli florets packed in polypropylene film and exposed to 5% O₂ + 5% Co₂, while at 5% O₂ + 10% Co₂ gave a slight off-odor at the end of storage with non significant differences between them.
Packing broccoli florets packed in polypropylene film and exposing to active MAP (5% O₂ + 10% Co₂) was the most effective treatment for reducing weight loss and color change and maintaining high content of chlorophyll and gave florets with good appearance for 16 days at 0^oC and 95% RH.