Shelf Life Enhancement of Button Mushroom (Agraricus Bisporus) by Modified Atmosphere Packaging (Map)

Production and consumption of edible mushroom have increased continuously in last two decades particularly due to their nutri tional and health benefits. Mushroom is a macro fungus with a distinctive fruiting body, which can be either epigenous or hypogenous and large enough to be seen with naked eye and to be picked by hand. Mushrooms are highly perishable and cannot be stored too long. Mushrooms have very short shelf life of less than 3 days under ambient condition and from 8 to 10 days under refrigeration. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of fresh mushroom depends on the modification of atmosphere insi de the package which can be achieved by the combination of two processes first is the respiration rates of the mushroom and second is the permeability of the packaging films. MAP proves to be the best technology to meet the consumer’s demand for best quality and fresh foods . KeywordsMacro fungus, fruiting body, Modified Atmosphere Packaging