Abstract:

Effect of modified atmosphere package (MAP) with oxygen at different concentrations and high carbon dioxide (20%) on quality change of fresh-cut spears of green asparagus during storage at (4 ± 1 )℃ were studied. Results indicated that treatment with 80% O2 could inhibit the loss of weight and accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA); attenuate the reduction in contents of total sugar, vitamin C, chlorophyll and lignin during storage of green asparagus. Degradation of vitamin C, accumulation of MDA and decline of total sugar content was observed in green asparagus treated with 60% O2, while no significant effect on loss of weight, change in contents of chlorophyll and lignin were observed. In contrast, the treatment with 40% O2 accelerated the decline of chlorophyll and total sugar although the change in contents of vitamin C, MDA and lignin as well as the rate of weight loss was not significant. These investigations revealed that combinatorial treatment using 80% O2 and 20% CO2 should have practical application for the storage of post-harvest green asparagus.

Key words: green asparagus, high oxygen treatment, MAP, quality