ศูนย์นวัตกรรมเทคโนโลยีหลังการเก็บเกี่ยว

Guidelines for post-harvest systems to preserve the quality of fruits and vegetables for distant markets.

Hobson, G.E.

ISHS Acta Horticulturae 287: 361-368

1991

บทคัดย่อ

The aesthetic, nutritional and commercial value of horticultural produce grown under protection diminishes rapidly during transport and distribution unless steps are taken to preserve its quality. Mineral fertilisation must be adequate for the crop in question to ensure that the product is able to withstand physiological and mechanical stresses. Most crops benefit from refrigeration which not only slows metabolism but can reduce water-loss as well. Ice-bank cooling systems are costly but effective in removing field-heat in produce soon after harvest. For leafy vegetables, vacuum cooling is particularly efficient. In all refrigerated storage, chilling injury is a hazard as each commodity has a critical temperature below which non-reversible changes take place to the detriment of quality. Sleeve-wrapping, shrink-wrapping or over-wrapping of produce also reduce desiccation and minimising damage during distribution. If plant material is completely sealed within a plastic film, then the atmosphere round the produce becomes modified through respiratory gas exchanges, and this extends shelf-life and preserves quality. Another method of modified-atmosphere storage involves the use of microporous patches. By this techniques, sufficient gas exchange with the atmosphere takes place so that the deterioration of the product is slowed down without affecting its quality. Future systems may well exploit surface coatings, low dose gamma-irradiation and genetic methods for minimising deterioration of produce after harvest.