Effect of packaging film on the quality of ‘Chaoyang’ honey peach fruit in modified atmosphere packages

Abstract

The quality of honey peach fruit stored at 2°C in modified atmosphere packages was studied. Three different thickness low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) films were used as packaging films. Honey peach fruits of ‘chaoyang’ were packaged in LDPE bags 15, 25 and 40µm thick and control (air). The respiration rate, O2 and CO2 concentrations in the packages, flesh colour, total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), flesh firmness (FF) and membrane integrity of the fruits were monitored. Compared to the control, MAP treatments inhibited the climacteric peak, avoided the increase of flesh colour, decreased the development of softness and retarded the reduction of TTS, TA and membrane integrity. Significant differences in the quality of the fruits were found between the three packages and the control (p ≤ 0.05). After 20 days at 2°C within the LDPE25 bags, a steady‐state atmosphere of 5% CO2 + 4% O2 was reached. Honey peaches stored in these bags showed the best quality at the end of the storage. Copyright copy; 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.