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Passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Low Temperature Storage of White Flesh Variety Dragon Fruit

 (Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose)

Mary Louise P. Pascual1, Engelbert K. Peralta2, Kevin F. Yaptenco3, Jessie C. Elauria4,

and Elda B. Esguerra5

ABSTRACT

The respiration rate was measured and the required transmission rate was computed at different temperature regimes to determine the compatible thickness of packaging material for dragon fruit. The respiration rates under 10°C and 5°C were determined to be 1.38 mL/kg-h, and 1.08 mL/kg-h, respectively. Polyethylene packaging film with 50.8µm thickness was determined as suitable for MAP of white flesh variety dragon fruit stored at 5°C and 10°C based on the comparison made between the fruit’s required transmission rate and film’s transmission rate. Actual MAP experiment for 30 days was done to validate the suitability of the selected film. The study shows that weight loss was greater with the controlled samples ranging from 41g to 51g compared to 1.7g to 1.9g of MAP samples. On the other hand, flesh MC was not affected while peel MC of controlled samples significantly decreased by 3.5% to 4.8%. MAP samples’ scale color remained green while controlled samples changed from green to yellow. The decrease in the firmness and titratable acidity was delayed for MAP samples while that of controlled samples’’ decreased by up to 44%. The total soluble solid was not significantly affected by the packaging film. The MAP samples have longer combined storage and shelf life of 25 days compared to controlled samples with 15 days.

Keywords: modified, packaging, dragon fruit, respiration, storage, temperature, transmission, polyethylene, optical, moisture, acidity, firmness

Citation:

Pascual, M.L.P., Peralta, E.K., Yaptenco, K.F., Elauria, J.C., and Esguerra, E.B.  (2017). Passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging for Low Temperature Storage of White Flesh Variety Dragon Fruit (Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose).  Philippine Journal of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, (13):30-41.

1University Extension Specialist II, College of Engineering and Agro-Industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031 College, Laguna, Philippines

2Professor 4, 3Professor 2, 3Professor 12, Agricultural and Bio-Process Division, Institute of Agricultural Engineering, College of Engineering and Agro-industrial Technology, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031 College, Laguna, Philippines

 4Professor, Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center, College of Agriculture and Food Science, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 4031 College, Laguna, Philippines