บทคัดย่องานวิจัย

The Design of Modified Atmosphere Perforated Plastic Packaging for Fresh Chillies

W. Utto, D.J. Tanner and T.R. Robertson

Program and Abstract. Australasian Postharvest Horticulture Conference. Royal Lakeside Novote., Rotorua, New Zealand. 27-30 September 2005. July 5-10, 2005. Page 57

2005

บทคัดย่อ

The Design of Modified Atmosphere Perforated Plastic Packaging for Fresh Chillies

The quality of fresh chillies changes rapidly and under Thai ambient conditions (30±5oC and 75±5% RH). This rapid deterioration in quality causes a direct loss in returns in growers and marketers. The aim of this project was to use mathematical models to design appropriate modified atmosphere perforated plastic packages to extend the shelf life of fresh chillies under Thai conditions. We studied the interactive effects of packaging and storage temperatures o­n postharvest qualities attributes (colour, firmness, weight and decay). Four storage temperatures (5, 10,720 and 30oC) and three packaging types: unpackaged (control), non-perforated bags, and perforated bags (with different levels of perforation) were traded. Refrigerated storage temperatures (5-10oC) with perforated plastic bags (in particular 0.5-1% perforation) reduced the rate of change of quality attributes and eliminated condensation, which was extensive in non-perforated bags. Chilling injury was not detected in any of the shelf life trials conducted with green `Cayenne' chillies. The O2 and CO2 atmospheres inside theperforated plastic bags were similar to ambient air conditions. Weight loss predictions generally agreed with experimentally observed trends. Sensitivity analyses perforated o­n the model showed that the observed lack of fit could largely be explained by uncertainties in estimated respiration data.