| Budget Amount *help |
¥2,000,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,000,000)
Fiscal Year 1993: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1992: ¥600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥600,000)
Fiscal Year 1991: ¥800,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000)
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| Research Abstract |
The respiration and transpiration rates of many tropical fruits are generally higher than those of other fruits, therefore, the tropical fruits often occur external injury and incidence of decay. This study was aimed at establishing some useful retention method and assessing the quality and storability of tropical fruits in air and CA storage.
Papaya (Carica papaya L.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), banana (Musa paradisiaca L.), and mango (Mangifera indica L.) were evaluated for external appearance, flesh firmness, and internal quality.
Storage of several fresh fruits in controlled atmospheres with moderately low O_2 (1% to 3%) and high CO_2 (<10%> levels at room temperature was shown to reduce respiratory metabolism, maintain flesh firmness and color, and thus prolong the postharvest life of these fruits. Several fruits (papaya, avocado) had abnormal ripening, and increased internal browning when exposed to an atmosphere containing less 1% O_2.
Also, the purpose of this study was to design, build and test a functional membrane storage system for storing tropical fruits.
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) used plastic membrane film for storing tropical fruits was evaluated. Required lower O_2 levels were achieved within the membrane storage system compared to normal air composition in a controlled chamber. Design calculations for selection of the membrane area are also presented. It can be concluded that the diffusion membrane storage aystem is applicable to some tropical fruits.
The problems to be solved on the membrane storage technique for tropical fruits are to control the increase in ethylene, carbon dioxide, water vapor and so on.
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