مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Quality Changes of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Fruits Stored in Different Packages

Abstract :

Many cucumber cultivars were developed upon changes in consumer demands in recent years. Research results on postharvest quality changes of varieties giving 30-35 cm long cucumber fruits, also known as ‘long cucumber’ varieties, are limited even if they are relatively important for the export market. This study was conducted for determining the effects of different packages on quality and physiological and pathological disorders during storage. Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L., cv.Baccara) harvested at commercial maturity from a grower greenhouse were wrapped one by one with shrink film or packed with a modified atmosphere (MA) package and compared with non-packed lose control fruit. Control and packed fruits were stored under 10±0,5°C and 90% relative humidity for 30 days. Shrink film and MA packages limited weight loss and prevented shrivelling, the weight loss totalled to 11,43 % after 30 days of storage and shrivelling occurred in non-packaged fruits. The colour b* value was 14,74 in cucumber fruit packed in MA whereas 16,11 and 21,77 in control and shrink film wrapped cucumbers. Changes in chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll contents also supported the results obtained for colour values and the reduction in chlorophyll a had the highest (40%) in fruit wrapped with shrink film Generally effects of packages on chemical attributes of cucumbers did not create significant differences. Research results showed that ‘long cucumbers’ nonpacked or wrapped with shrink film would be stored for 20 days, on the other hand MA package extended storage period to 30 days.