Comprehensive evaluation method to reveal the combined effects of maturity and modified atmosphere packaging on jujube storage qualities

Abstract

Jujube is highly appreciated with its nutrition and savory taste, but it is easy to suffer quality deterioration during postharvest storage. In order to find the proper preservation strategy for jujube fruit, 17 physicochemical qualities and bioactive attributes of jujubes harvested at 2 maturities and packed in 12 different modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) were investigated. Results showed the maturity and MAP combinedly influenced the jujube storage qualities, and an explicit comprehensive evaluation model was constructed based on principal components analysis (PCA). Jujube fruit harvested at half-red maturity then packed in MAP of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with 15 μm thickness showed the highest comprehensive qualities, as the fruit firmness, total content of polyphenols and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging capacity was 23.84%, 23.63% and 36.70% higher than the unpacked fruit, and malonaldehyde (MDA) content and electrolyte leakage was 50.63% and 21.82% lower, respectively, which 5 attributes were confirmed as the critical indexes to evaluate the jujube storage properties. In conclusion, an effective strategy to evaluate jujube storage quality were explored, and half-red maturity combined with 15 μm LDPE packaging could effectively maintain jujube excellent qualities and reduce postharvest loss.