Effect of some postharvest treatments on quality attributes and storability of asparagus spears during cold storage

Abstract

This study was conducted during 2022 and 2023 seasons to evaluate the influence of 1-MCP as sheet contained 5%, exposed to ozone gas (4 or 7 ppm), active MAP (5% O2 + 5% CO2 or 5% O2 + 10% CO2) and passive MAP as compared with untreated control on quality attributes and storability of asparagus spears (UC157 F2) during storage at 2°C and 90-95% RH for 20 days. Results indicated that asparagus spears treated with all postharvest treatments were effective in reducing weight loss %, curvature, Phenylalanine ammonia-lays enzyme activity, discoloration, colour change, O2 consumption and CO2 production as well as in maintaining total chlorophyll, total phenolic and the overall appearance of spears during storage as compared with untreated control. However, asparagus spears treated with ozone gas at 4 ppm were the most effective treatment in preserving all the quality attributes of spears. Furthermore, this treatment showed the excellent appearance of spears without any discoloration and curvature till 20 days of storage while ozone gas (7 ppm), 1-MCP and active MAP (5% O2 + 5% CO2) treatments gave a good appearance at the same period. The gas composition inside the package treated with ozone gas at 4 or 7 ppm had high O2 and low CO2 %.