Effect of Cold Storage and Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Strawberry (Fragaria X Ananassa Duch.) cv. “Arben” Fruit Keeping Quality

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Strawberry is one of the most popular fruits worldwide. Therefore, it is important to maintain its supply and freshness and potency guaranteed from the farms to the point of consumption. Strawberries spoil rapidly and the quality changes with storage delays. However, little is known about the effect of storage methods on the changes of its quality. In this study, two storage methods; Cold Storage (CS) and Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) were investigated to see how it will maintain its quality. Results obtained showed that storage method has an effect on keeping its quality, and it proved that MAP is the acceptable storage method because it kept on strawberry quality, extended storage period, and decreased weight loss, in contrast, showed the highest fruit decay, in compare to the cold stored fruits. And that means; MAP can be useful supplements to provide optimum storage conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and maintain the quality of fresh strawberry fruits after harvest.