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Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen

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Postharvest Management Approaches for Maintaining Quality of Fresh Produce

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Abstract

Oxygen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen are gases produced under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Nitrogen helps to prevent oxidation by displacing oxygen, whilst CO2 acts as a bacteriostatic. Each of them plays different roles in the biochemical and physiological responses of fruits and vegetables. Respiration rate and ethylene synthesis are among the roles affected by these gases. Changes in such biochemical responses influence the shelf-life and sensorial properties and maintain or increase the nutritional value of fresh produce. However, due to the differences in the biochemical and physiological responses among climacteric and nonclimacteric fresh produce, it is necessary to know which MAP conditions are optimal to have positive effect on the overall quality of fruits and vegetables.

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Abbreviations

MAP:

Modified atmosphere packaging

O2 :

Oxygen

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

N2 :

Nitrogen

PVC:

Polyvinyl chloride

PET:

Polyethylene terephthalate

PP:

Polypropylene

PE:

Polyethylene

PPO:

Polyphenol oxidase

TCA:

Glycolysis tricarboxylic acid

PAL:

Phenylalanine ammonia lyase

ACC:

1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid

ACS:

ACC synthase

ACO:

ACC oxidase

MIV:

Minimum inhibitory volume

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigacion en Alimentacion y Desarrollo, A.C. (CIAD, AC), Carretera a la Victoria Km 0.6, La Victoria, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83000, Mexico

    M. Ovando-Martínez, C. A. Ruiz-Pardo, A. E. Quirós-Sauceda, G. R. Velderrain-Rodríguez, G. A. González-Aguilar & J. F. Ayala-Zavala

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  1. M. Ovando-Martínez
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  2. C. A. Ruiz-Pardo
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  3. A. E. Quirós-Sauceda
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  4. G. R. Velderrain-Rodríguez
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  5. G. A. González-Aguilar
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  6. J. F. Ayala-Zavala
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Correspondence to G. A. González-Aguilar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Food Science and Technology, Bihar Agricultural University, Sabour, Bhagalpur, Bihar, India

    Mohammed Wasim Siddiqui

  2. Centro de Investigacion en Alimentacion y Desarrollo, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico

    Jesus Fernando Ayala Zavala

  3. USDA-ARS, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, USA

    Cheng-An (Andy) Hwang

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Ovando-Martínez, M., Ruiz-Pardo, C.A., Quirós-Sauceda, A.E., Velderrain-Rodríguez, G.R., González-Aguilar, G.A., Ayala-Zavala, J.F. (2016). Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Nitrogen. In: Siddiqui, M., Ayala Zavala, J., Hwang, CA. (eds) Postharvest Management Approaches for Maintaining Quality of Fresh Produce. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-23582-0_1

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