OPTIMIZATION OF MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING FOR CUCUMBER (Cucumis sativus L.)
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Date
2013
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PAU Ludhiana
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to optimize Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) to obtain the maximum shelf life on the basis of quality attributes and sensory evaluation during the storage study experiment. Respiration and transpiration rates of cucumber at different temperatures viz. 5, 10, 15°C and ambient (18.6°C) were determined. The respiration rate was described assuming the combined type of inhibition in the enzyme kinetics model. Arrhenius relationship was used to explain the temperature dependence of respiration rate, respiratory quotient and transpiration rate of fresh cucumber. A theoretical analysis for design of MAP for selection of appropriate packaging film was carried out by matching the data obtained in respiration study with the permeabilities of commercially available packaging films. Cucumber was packed in LDPE and stored under different conditions such as film thickness: 100, 150, 200 gauge; package fill weight = 200, 300, 400g; level of perforations: 0, 2, 4; storage temperature: 5, 10, 15°C. The qualitative analysis of cucumber throughout the storage study was done in terms physiological loss in weight, total colour difference, firmness, total chlorophyll, and ascorbic acid. Sensory evaluation was done on the basis of visual appearance, odour rating and water accumulation. The study also revealed that the low temperature storage better retained the quality and quantity of fresh cucumber during its storage. MAP along with low temperature storage helped in enhancing shelf life of fresh cucumber upto 28 days. The optimized conditions obtained for shelf life extension of cucumber under MAP by using response surface methodology was temperature: 6.10°C, film thickness: 135.01 gauge, fill weight: 274.61 g, perforations: 0 and the expected shelf life of fresh cucumber at optimized conditions was 21 days.
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