African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6801

Full Length Research Paper

Enhancing the shelf life of fresh-cut bitter gourd using modified atmospheric packaging

Preetha P.
  • Preetha P.
  • Department of Food and Agricultural Process Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore ? 641 003, India
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Varadharaju N.
  • Varadharaju N.
  • Post-Harvest Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- 03, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Vennila P.
  • Vennila P.
  • Post-Harvest Technology Centre, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore- 03, Tamil Nadu, India.
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  •  Received: 26 November 2013
  •  Accepted: 07 April 2015
  •  Published: 23 April 2015

Abstract

The study of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) of fresh-cut bitter gourd was taken to extend the shelf life. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) films with a thickness of 100 micron (µ) were selected due to their less permeability to O2. The fresh-cut bitter gourd packaged under two different atmosphere (active – 3% O2 and 5% CO2 and passive – atmospheric air) and stored at 8±2°C. The results showed that active MAP in LDPE had a minimum reduction in the physiological loss in weight (4.2%), chlorophyll content (19.26%), ascorbic acid (15%) and minimum increase of color value ‘a’ (44%), titratable acidity (66%), bacteria (50%), fungi (42.4%) after 15 days of storage. The sensory evaluation of maximum overall acceptability 8.2 was recorded in active MAP in LDPE.

 

Key words: Modified atmospheric packaging, bitter gourd, active modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), passive modified atmospheric packaging (MAP), fresh-cut.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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