Title: Use of ethylene scavenger sachet in modified atmosphere packaging to maintain storage stability of khalal date fruit

Authors: Seyed Mohammad Hassan Mortazavi; Zahra Karami; Ahmad Mostaan

Addresses: Department of Horticultural Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran ' Department of Horticultural Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran ' Date Palm and Tropical Fruit Research Institute, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract: Among different physiological stages of development, the fruit of many date palm cultivars is harvested at Tamar stage. But for some cultuvars, which have low tannin content, fruit can be harvested and consumed at khalal stage when it is crispy in texture and sweet in taste. Due to have an active metabolism and high water content, storage and marketing of khalal date is limited by skin wrinkling and quick incidence of soft brown spots (SBS). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different packaging methods (control, passive MAP, MAP + ethylene scavenger sachet) and then storing at 5 or 15°C on the quality of khalal date fruit cv. barhee. During 27 days of storage, fruit were analysed in three day intervals and evaluated for different quality parameters, including flesh firmness, weight loss, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), incidence of SBS, electrolyte leakage and surface colour. MAP treatment with ethylene scavenger sachets was found to be effective in lowering weight loss (0.42%) and SBS (35%) and maintaining tissue firmness. Furthermore, other quality parameters experienced low changes in this treatment. Among the two storage temperatures, fruit which held at 5°C, remained firmer and showed superior in quality than those stored at 15°C.

Keywords: barhee cultivar; date palms; phoenix dactylifera L; ethylene absorbing sachets; modified atmosphere packaging; MAP treatment; storage stability; khalal dates; fruit storage; active metabolism; water content; skin wrinkling; soft brown spots; fruit quality; flesh firmness; weight loss; titratable acidity; total soluble solids; TSS; electrolyte leakage; surface colour.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2015.072447

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2015 Vol.5 No.1, pp.52 - 63

Accepted: 19 May 2015
Published online: 13 Oct 2015 *

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