Abstract:

Three groups of green asparagus were packed in a high oxygen modified atmosphere consisting of 60% O+20% CO2+20% N2, 80% O2+20% CO2 and 100% O2 respectively, and another group of green asparagus were packed in an air atmosphere as control. All green asparagus were stored at (4 ± 1) ℃ for 28 days, and their content of lignin, weight loss, chlorophyll, phenylalnine ammonialyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) activities were studied. The results showed that in high oxygen modified atmosphere packaging, the weight loss were reduced, the degradation of chlorophyll and the increase of lignin contents, PAL and POD activities were inhibited. And green asparagus packed in 80% O2+20% CO2 atmosphere were best of the 4 groups with lower weight loss, better color, and lighter degree of lignification, and thus the shelf life of green asparagus was extended with good quality.

Key words: green asparagus, high oxygen modified atmosphere packaging, weight loss, chlorophyll, lignin, phenylalnine ammonialyase, peroxidase