MAP reduces mechanical injury and quality loss of broccoli

Package cushioning is one of the most important preserving methods to help protect fresh produce from potential mechanical damage caused by shock and vibration (abiotic stress). On the other hand, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is considered as the effective tool for maintaining quality and extending shelf life of fresh produce through alterations of its physiological activities and subsequent quality changes. However, the benefit of MAP films on reduction of mechanical injury has not been yet clarified. We, therefore, examined the combining benefit of MAP as packaging material and cushioning for broccoli during transport and storage. By using the vibrating simulator (truck transport simulation), broccoli heads under five different packaging conditions were treated with the acceleration of 5.22 m/s2, sweep mode at the frequency range of 5-25Hz for 2 h (referring the Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) test method). The broccoli samples for quality assessment were taken immediately after the treatment (Day 0) and during 3 days of storage at 20?C. From the results, we found that the MAP treatment efficiently reduced the mechanical injury caused by transport vibration. Moreover, the MAP treatment significantly reduced weight loss and maintained chlorophyll and sugar contents of stored broccoli florets. The MAP effect on reduction of mechanical injury during transport and on quality maintenance during storage of broccoli was confirmed. The further research on the cellular response metabolisms of broccoli to MAP will provide useful information regarding the selection of an optimum packaging condition for broccoli. Original tittle, complete list of authors and sourcesEVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING (MAP) TO REDUCE MECHANICAL INJURY AND QUALITY LOSS OF BROCCOLIThammawong, M1, Umehara, H1, Nakamura, N1, Ito, Y1, Shiina, T1manasika@affrc.go.jp1National Food Research Institute, NARO, Ibaraki, Japan IHC 2014, International Horticulture Congress, 17-22 August 2014, Brisbane, http://www.ihc2014.org/The picture is Naxos, one of the wide range of varieties of broccoli by SakataKey wordsPoscosecha?? ?postcosecha?? ?postharvest?? ?na-oes?? ??? ??? ???????? ????? ??? ?post-r?colte?? ????? ?? ??????????? ??? ?na-oogst?? ?post-raccolta?? ?Obr?bka po?? ?p?s-colheita?? ????????????????? ?hasat sonras??? ??? ?Ernte?? ????????????????? ????? ????????????? ?postcollita?? ?poskliz?ov頠 ????? ??? ??? ??? ?nakon branja?? ?pozberov頠 ??? ?obdelovanje zemlje po?? ?post-colleita?? ?????? ??????? ?pascapanen?? ??il?onn postharvest?? ??????? ?p?c ra?as?? ?derliaus apdirbimas po?? ?lepas tuai?? ??? ?? ???????? ?post-recoltare?? ??????? ??????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ?????????????????? ?sau thu ho?ch?? ?????????????????? ?zangemva kwenkathi yokuvuna?? ??? ? Br?coli?? ?br?culi?? ?broccoli?? ??? ????????? ?????? ?brokolo?? ?brocoli?? ??????????? ????????????? ??? ??? ?broku?y?? ?br?colis?? ??????????? ?brokoli?? ?????????? ?Brokkoli?? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? ???? ?