EFFECT OF HOT WATER DIPS AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING ON QUALITY AND STORABILITY OF FRESH-CUT GREEN ONION DURING COLD STORAGE

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Veg. Crops Dept., Fac. Agric., Cairo Univ., Egypt

2 Post Harvest and Handling of Veg. Crops Dept., Hort. Res. Inst., Agric. Res. Cent., Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Green onions (Allium cepa L.) plants Photon cv. produced under usual cultivation practices in a private farm at Fayed District, Ismalia Governorate, Egypt. Plants were harvested when bulb diameter exceeded 12- 16 mm on February during 2015 and 2016 seasons. This investigation aims to study the effect of hot water dips (50°C for 2 min or 55°C for 1 min) and storing in  active modified atmosphere packages (MAP) at  5% O2 + 5% CO2  or  7.5% O2 + 10% CO2) or in passive MAP beside unpacked plants (control) on leaf extension growth, root growth and leaf curvature and quality attributes of fresh- cut green onions during storage at 0°C and 95% relative humidity (RH) for 20 days  plus 2 days at 10°C and 70% RH. Results indicated that green onion plants dipped in hot water at 50°C for 2 min. gave the lowest weight loss as compared with 55°C for 1 min, also hot water treatment at 55°C for 1 min. or storing in active MAP at 5% O2 + 5% CO2 were the most effective treatments in reducing decay percentage during storage + shelf life. Hot water treatment at 50°C for 2 min. or active MAP at 7.5% O2 + 10% CO were less effective in this concern. Moreover, no decay was observed in green onion plants dipped in hot water at 55°C for 1 min. followed by active MAP at 5% O2+ 5% CO2 during all storage period + shelf life. Furthermore, it is also controlled root growth and leaf curvature and reduced leaf extension growth (less than 5 mm), maintained chlorophyll readings and gave excellent appearance without any visible injuries after 20 days at 0°C + 2 days (at 10°C shelf life).

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