Effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on the quality of snow pea pods (Pisum sativum L. var. saccharatum)

doi:10.1016/S0925-5214(00)00149-6

Postharvest Biology and Technology

Volume 21, Issue 2, 1 January 2001, Pages 213-223

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-5214(00)00149-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

The effects of precooling, modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on the storability of snow pea pods (Pisum sativum L. var. saccharatum) at 5°C were determined. Bagging pods with polymethyl pentene polymeric films (PMP) of 25 and 35 μm thickness, in conjunction with precooling, modified the in-bag atmosphere concentration to approximately 5 kPa O₂ and 5 kPa CO₂, leading to better maintenance of the pod external quality (appearance and color), as well as internal quality (chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, and sugar contents). Sensory scores were also maintained. Under CA storage at 5°C, gas compositions ranging from 5 to 10 kPa O₂ with 5 kPa CO₂ were the best storage conditions of those tested, since changes in organic acid, free amino acid and sugar contents, and pod sensory attributes were slight, corroborating the MAP results. The appearance of pods stored under CA conditions was much better than that of air-stored pods (control). Low O₂ (2.5 kPa with 5 kPa CO₂) and high CO₂ (10 kPa with 5 kPa O₂) concentrations have a detrimental effect on quality of stored pods since they developed slight off-flavors, but this effect is reversible since it was partially alleviated after ventilation.

Introduction

Western consumers have begun to prefer the edible podded pea (snow pea pods), a special type of pea in which the pods rather than the seeds are eaten (Splittstoesser, 1978). The demand for snow pea pods has been increasing steadily in some markets such as the US and Japan.

Most studies conducted on peas have dealt with the green shell seed crop, which is grown almost exclusively for processing. Very little information is available on the optimum storage conditions of snow pea pods. Kader (1992) stated that the pea is a highly perishable immature commodity that can be cooled and stored at temperatures near 0°C to extend its shelf life, has an extremely high respiration rate and is classified as a non-climacteric commodity. To retain the best quality, edible-podded peas are harvested before physiological maturity is reached (Basterrechea and Hicks, 1991). Shortly after harvest, loss of sweetness and crispness, as well as degreening and the development of mealiness, may degrade the quality.

Low temperature storage when combined with controlled atmospheres (CA) or modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), results in reduced respiration and ethylene production rates, retarded softening, and a slowing down of compositional changes associated with ripening and senescence (Wills et al., 1981, Zagory and Kader, 1989, O'Beirne, 1991).

Previous experiments combining low temperature storage and CA have revealed that an atmosphere of 5 kPa CO₂ at 5°C maintained the color and flavor of unshelled peas (Tomkins, 1957). Also, increasing the CO₂ concentration to 2.6 or 4.7 kPa, combined with 21 or 2.4 kPa O₂, at 1°C maintained the appearance, as well as chlorophyll, soluble sugar and protein contents of stored snow peas (Ontai et al., 1992). Another related study reported by KPAES (1983) showed that storing snow pea pods at either 0 or 5°C did not cause any substantial difference in their appearance or taste during the first week of storage.

This study has been conducted to evaluate the effects of MAP and CA on the maintenance of quality of snow pea pods stored at 5°C. The effects of gas concentrations achieved by using different plastic film materials (MAP) in conjunction with precooling on pod quality were evaluated first, and the effect of different CA compositions on pod quality was then determined in order to improve their storability.

Section snippets

Plant material

Samples of snow pea pods (Pisum sativum L. var. saccharatum cv. Ichihara wase) were obtained from the Sodegaura packing house, in Chiba Prefecture, Japan.

Experiment I: Effects of precooling and MAP on the quality of snow pea pods stored at 5°C

Samples free of visual defects were divided into two portions. One portion was precooled using a vacuum cooling system, wherein the internal pod temperature was reduced to approximately 4°C. The remaining portion was not precooled.

Subsequently, all samples (precooled and non-precooled) were rapidly weighed to 100±2 g and placed in bags

Experiment I: Effects of precooling and MAP on the quality of snow pea pods stored at 5°C

All treatments resulted in the same pattern of O₂ and CO₂ concentrations within the bags. Within 2 weeks of storage, all treatments resulted in lower O₂ contents (Fig. 1). Oxygen in PMP bags decreased to around 8 kPa, but in OPP bags rapidly decreased to nearly 1 kPa. After 2 weeks, the O₂ content was near a steady-state level for all treatments. Oxygen in PMP bags reached around 5–6 kPa, while in LDPE bags 2 kPa and in OPP bags 3 kPa (Fig. 1A). Non-precooled treatments resulted in higher O₂

Discussion

A gas concentration of around 5 kPa O₂ and 5 kPa CO₂ at a storage temperature of 5°C resulted from bagging snow pea pods with a PMP polymeric plastic film (having the highest gas permeance) (Fig. 1). PMP resulted in the 4.6 kPa CO₂ concentration recommended by Ontai et al. (1992) for storing snow pea pods either at 10 or 1°C, but not the O₂ content which was higher than the recommended 2.4 kPa O₂.

This level of gas concentration within a PMP package had a significant effect on the external

Acknowledgements

We thank M. Katagiri of Tohcello Co., Ltd. for supplying PMP films.

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Effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and controlled atmosphere (CA) storage on the quality of snow pea pods (Pisum sativum L. var. saccharatum)

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Plant material

Experiment I: Effects of precooling and MAP on the quality of snow pea pods stored at 5°C

Experiment I: Effects of precooling and MAP on the quality of snow pea pods stored at 5°C

Discussion

Acknowledgements

Sci. Hortic.

Postharvest Biol. Technol.

Proposal for a rationalized system of units for postharvest research in gas exchange

HortScience

Colour quality evaluation of horticultural crops

HortScience

Acid invertase of melon fruits. Immunochemical detection of acid invertases

Plant Cell Physiol.

Agricultural experimentation. Design and analysis

Effect of carbon dioxide content of storage atmosphere on carbohydrate transformation in certain fruits and vegetables

J. Agr. Res.