Comparison of Microbial Inactivation and Rheological Characteristics of Mango Pulp after High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatment and High Temperature Short Time Treatment

Abstract

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatments at pressures of 300–600 MPa for 1–20 min and of high-temperature, short-time (HTST) treatment on the inactivation of natural microorganisms in blanched mango pulp (BMP) and unblanched mango pulp (UBMP) were investigated. No yeasts, molds, or aerobic bacteria were detected in BMP or UBMP after HHP treatments at 300 MPa/15 min, 400 MPa/5 min, 500 MPa/2.5 min, and 600 MPa/1 min and HTST treatment at 110 °C/8.6 s. Therefore, these conditions were selected to study the effects of HHP and HTST treatments on pectin methylesterase (PME) activity, water-soluble pectin (WSP) levels, and the rheological characteristics of UBMP and BMP. HHP treatment at a pressure of 600 MPa for 1 min significantly reduced PME activity in UBMP and significantly activated PME in BMP, whereas pressures of 300–500 MPa activated PME regardless of blanching. However, PME activity was reduced by 97 % in UBMP and was completely inactivated in BMP by HTST treatment. WSP levels were significantly decreased by HHP treatment but were increased by HTST treatment in UBMP and BMP. Both HHP and HTST treatments increased the viscosity, storage modulus, and loss modulus of UBMP and BMP. No significant changes in total sugar, total soluble solids, titratable acid, or pH were found after any treatment.