Effects of MAP Treatment on Aroma Compounds and Enzyme Activities in Flat Peach during Storage and Shelf Life

Abstract

Cold storage is used to delay the senescence of peaches, but it can also lead to internal browning and aroma loss. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has been reported to inhibit the internal browning and prolong the storage time. Four MAP treatments in the present study were set as follows: I: O2 1% to 3%, CO2 3% to 5%, and N2 92% to 96%; II: O2 3% to 5%, CO2 3% to 5%, and N2 90% to 94%; III: O2 6% to 8%, CO2 3% to 5%, and N2 87% to 91%; and control (CK): O2 21%, CO2 0.03%, and N2 79%. The concentration of sugars, acids, aroma compounds, superoxide radical (O2−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as the activities of enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), lipoxygenase (LOX), hydroperoxide lyase (HPL), alcohol dehydrogenase, and alcohol O-acyltransferase (AAT) activities, were investigated. The results revealed that MAP, especially for treatment II, could inhibit the loss of flavors such as sugars, acids, and aroma compounds; maintain higher SOD and POD activities; and inhibit the accumulation of O2−, H2O2, and MDA during shelf life after storage at low temperature for 30 days. It could also inhibit the LOX and HPL activities at low temperature, but maintain higher LOX and HPL activities during shelf life. These findings indicated that treatment II could prolong the storage time to 30 days and shelf life for 3 days; maintain the higher content of sugars, acids, and aroma compounds; protect the cell membrane from oxidative injury; and inhibit internal browning during cold storage and shelf life.