Use of bags for blueberry packaging increased the proportion of sound fruit and decreased firmness loss

During two seasons, the use of modified atmosphere packaging was studied on fresh blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) cv. Brigitta, as a function of harvest time, bag sealing, bag size and number of perforations. Low - density polyethylene gusseted bags (0.002 gauge, 50 microns thick; target area size 0,3mm2) were used. In trial 1, treatments combined harvest time: AM vs. PM, and moment of bag sealing: before or after cooling at 0 ?C. In trial 2, packaging was compared to a control without bag, for AM - and PM - fruit. In trial 3, AM - fruit was packed in small or large bags, with 0, 2 or 4 perforations, in order to achieve different % CO2/O2. After harvest, fruit were placed under shading (6h delay) before sorting. Berries were stored for 30 and 45d at 0 ?C and evaluated after 1d at 18 ?C. Evaluations included: % CO2 evolution, berry firmness (g/mm), weight loss (%) and fruit quality (% sound, rotten, dehydrated or mechanically - damaged fruit). Results show that use of bags increased the proportion of sound fruit and decreased firmness loss in all trials, when compared to controls. The main effect of bagging was a lower proportion of dehydrated fruit (5 - 20% in bags vs. 30 - 40% in controls). Additionally, bagging increased % sound fruit in AM vs. PM harvest; however, there was no effect of time of sealing. Within bags, major gas modification was found with 0 perforations, but there was no relationship with fruit quality, probably due to low levels of CO2 (<4%). Weight loss ranged from 1.3 - 2.7% on bagged fruit vs. 4.9 - 9.7% on non - bagged fruit. Results evidence a high potential of modified atmosphere packaging for boat shipping of blueberries for distant markets, but more restrictive gas conditions are needed, in order to enhance its effect. Research financed by Fondef Project D09R1008 and Orchard View Farms Inc. Sources & authors POTENTIAL USE OF MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING OF FRESH BLUEBERRIES FOR LONG DISTANCE MARKETSMoggia, C. (*), Lobos, G. and Retamales, J.(*) cmoggia@utalca.clCenter of Plant Breeding and Phenomics, Universidad de Talca, Casilla 747, Talca, Chile CA MA 2013, XI International Controlled & Modified Atmosphere Research Conference, Trani (Italy), 3-7 June 2013La imagen es gentileza de Claudia Moggia ?