EXTENDED COLD STORAGE OF WINTER PEARS BY MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING

ABSTRACT The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the maintenance of fruit quality during the extended storage of ‘Rocha’ and ‘Packham’s Triumph’ pears. Fruit were packed in linear low density polyethylene (100 mm), with 6% BIF 1500 additive placed into perforated plastic boxes and kept at 0 ± 1 °C and 90 ± 5% RH for up to 180 days. MAP reduced weight loss by 14.8% for ‘Rocha’ and 11.5% for ‘Packham’s’ pears after 180 days in cold storage and retained the green color of the skin, which means that the yellowing visual perception was delayed in 60 and 90 days for ‘Rocha’ and ‘Packham’s’ pears, respectively. A strong softening was observed for ‘Packham’s’ pears after being kept for 150 days at 0° C followed by 5 days at room temperature, which did not limit the storage of both pear cultivars under modified atmosphere packaging. MAP created by linear low density polyethylene (100 mm), with 6% BIF 1500 additive extended in 30 days the cold storage for ‘Rocha’ and 60 days for ‘Packham’s’ pears.