Title: The effect of modified atmosphere packaging on the postharvest shelf life of Salicornia bigelovii

Authors: Behjat Tajeddin; Afsaneh Mohammadshafii; Maryam Hashemi; Homa Behmadi

Addresses: Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), P.O. Box 31585-845, Karaj, Iran ' Universal Trade Partners (Sarl), Vevey, Switzerland ' Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Karaj, Iran ' Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Agricultural Engineering Research Institute (AERI), Karaj, Iran

Abstract: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of active modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) conditions on the postharvest shelf life of Salicornia bigelovii as a leafy green vegetable. Salicornia is highly perishable, with a short shelf life under ambient conditions. Two types of packaging materials were used under three different gas mixtures, with the packaged product being refrigerated at 4°C for approximately one month to verify the possibility of extending Salicornia's shelf life. The moisture content, weight loss, respiration rate, salinity, pH and acidity were measured for this study. Data were analysed in a completely randomised design using two-way analysis of variance. The results indicate that, as a leafy green vegetable, Salicornia has a high respiration rate; therefore, the use of proper MAP is likely to extend its postharvest shelf life. A comparison of means among the each treatment over the time and comparing all treatments at one time suggests that selection of nanopolymer films with a ten days storage time under a gas mixture with a higher content of CO₂ than the normal air (it be 5% CO₂) can be helpful in keeping the quality of S. bigelovii as a leafy vegetable.

Keywords: active MAP; quality characteristics; Salicornia bigelovii; headspace gas changes.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPTI.2020.110876

International Journal of Postharvest Technology and Innovation, 2020 Vol.7 No.4, pp.257 - 270

Received: 20 Dec 2019
Accepted: 05 Mar 2020
Published online: 30 Oct 2020 *

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