Minimally processed peach quality highly depends on variety and packaging atmosphere

Fresh - cut peaches have a limited shelf - life due to cut surface browning, flesh softening and pit cavity breakdown that lead to fast quality deterioration. Although beneficial effects of atmosphere modification on whole peach fruits are not always consistent, it may represent a feasible strategy to extend the shelf - life of the fresh - cut product. On the basis of preliminary results on fresh - cut ?Tardi Belle? peach, in this study a continuous flow of humidified atmosphere of 2% O2 and 20% CO2 (CA) was applied on different cultivars in order to evaluate its effect on quality attributes. A continuous flow of humidified air was used as a control. The experiment was carried out on two yellow fleshed peaches (cv. ?Tardi Belle? and cv. ?Red Star?) and on a local clingstone variety (?Michelina?). Physiological and quality attributes of peach wedges were monitored during 8 days of storage at 5 ?C. Results differed among cultivars, although CA extended the shelf - life of ?Tardi Belle? and ?Michelina? beyond the air control. ?Red Star? was not greatly affected by CA, except for firmness retention. A general degradation of quality attributes during storage was observed in all cultivars, regardless of the treatment. When present, main effects of CA were most visible on appearance score, firmness, and PPO activity reduction, although acetaldehyde and ethanol concentrations slightly increased, possibly influencing sensorial perception. Due to fast surface browning and short shelf-life, ?Michelina? and ?Tardi Belle? may result not suitable for minimal processing when stored in air, whereas the application of atmosphere modification could be useful to prevent severe quality loss; on the other hand fruits of ?Red Star? could be processed as a fresh - cut product also without the additional benefit due to atmosphere modification. This study confirmed the high variability in the response to CA among peach cultivars and the importance of performing accurate tests before industrial application according to the genotype. The first picture shows samples after 8 days storage at 5?C, respectively in air and in modified atmosphere. The other pictures show the preparation of the samples and the packaging during the trials (pictures kindness Fedele Colantuono)Original title, complete list of authors, and sourceEFFECT OF ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION ON FRESH -CUT PEACH QUALITYColantuono, Fedele (*), Ricci, I., Amodio, M.L. and Colelli, G.f.colantuono@unifg.itDip.to di Scienze Agrarie, degli Alimenti e dell?Ambiente - Universit? di Foggia, Via Napoli 25, 71122 Foggia, Italy CA MA 2013, XI International Controlled & Modified Atmosphere Research Conference, Trani (Italy), 3-7 June 2013 ? ?