Influence of type and thickness of packaging film on quality attributes of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) treated with 1-methycyclopropene during cold storage

Abstract

Present investigation was carried out to find out the influence of type and thickness of packaging films on quality attributes of 1-MCP treated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) during cold storage. The packaging films used were of polyfilms of low density polyethylene (LDPE) at 40μ, 50μ and 75μ and polypropylene of 40μ thicknesses along with control (plastic crates). The tomato fruits (var. Punjab Ratta) harvested at breaker stage from a crop grown at Vegetable Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, India were treated with 1-methylcyclopropene at 18 mg/L of distilled water. The treated fruits were modified atmosphere packed and double sealed using paddle operated sealer machine. The modified atmosphere packed fruits were kept in cold stoarge maitained at 13±20C and relative humidity of 85-90%. During storage fruits were analysed for quality parameters like color (a*value), hue angle, titratable acidity (% citric acid) and firmness(N) at weekly intervals i.e. on 1st, 8th,15th, 22nd 29th and 36th day after treatment. Tomato fruits packed in LDPE of 50μ and polypropylene of 40μ thickness showed lower a* values than the fruits packed in LDPE of 40μ and LDPE of 75μ at all the days of storage. At 36th day of storage, tomato fruits packed in polypropylene of 40μ thickness were in red-ripe stage (hue angle 55.12°) while, fruits in LDPE and control were in near over ripe stage. However, fruits packed in LDPE at 40μ, 50μ and 75μ proved to be better in retaining higher titratable acidity and firmness over control.