Modeling Respiration Characteristics of Cucumber to Design a Proper Modified Atmosphere Packaging

Having a short postharvest life, cucumber undergoes rapid loss of quality. In this research, the effects of temperature, oxygen, and postharvest storage time on the respiration rate of Royal cucumbers were investigated. To design a Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) for cucumber in order to extend its shelf-life, a mathematical model using Michaelis–Menten’s equation, with the model constants described by means of an Arrhenius-type relationship, was applied to predict respiration rate at various temperatures (4, 10, and 20ºC) and O2 concentrations. Results revealed that all three factors affected respiration rate of the cucumbers, but the influence of temperature was most pronounced. The model was validated in a commercial passive and active MAP. The model could well predict the O2 change in the package but the modeling of CO2 change, mainly at 20ºC, was not satisfactory, which might be due to occurrence of anaerobic condition. The mathematical model was verified as long as the O2 concentration did not reach anaerobic levels at 20°C. Applying the corresponding respiration, the model will also be applicable for other variety of cucumbers with similar metabolic and respiratory behavior to design the optimal MAP conditions.