Published in Scientific Papers. Series B, Horticulture, Vol. LXVIII, Issue 2
Written by Oana Elena TOAȘCĂ (COJOCARU), Cristina PETRIȘOR, Cătălin Viorel OLTENACU, Mihai GÎDEA
Apricots are stone fruit highly perishable and their limited post-harvest life is a problem for marketing. Low-cost postharvest techniques should be employed to extend the shelf life of fresh fruit and reduce postharvest losses. Apricots were packaged using 2 types of polypropylene films: microperforated and non-perforated and then stored at 1°C to study the effects of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the maintenance of fruits quality and optimum storage time by comparison with non-wrapped fruits. Dry matter, weight, firmness, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, color, respiration rate, and ethylene production were evaluated. Apricots sealed in non-perforated plastic films at low temperature had an extended marketable life of around 15 days. Our results indicate that apricot fruit in non-perforated films showed lower weight loss, firmness and TA, as well as higher sugar content during storage. The respiration rate and ethylene production were lower in MAP package treatments than in control fruits.
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