Use of ethylene scavenger sachet in modified atmosphere packaging to maintain storage stability of khalal date fruit

Abstract

Among different physiological stages of development, the fruit of many date palm cultivars is harvested at Tamar stage. But for some cultuvars, which have low tannin content, fruit can be harvested and consumed at khalal stage when it is crispy in texture and sweet in taste. Due to have an active metabolism and high water content, storage and marketing of khalal date is limited by skin wrinkling and quick incidence of soft brown spots (SBS). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different packaging methods (control, passive MAP, MAP + ethylene scavenger sachet) and then storing at 5 or 15°C on the quality of khalal date fruit cv. barhee. During 27 days of storage, fruit were analysed in three day intervals and evaluated for different quality parameters, including flesh firmness, weight loss, titratable acidity, total soluble solids (TSS), incidence of SBS, electrolyte leakage and surface colour. MAP treatment with ethylene scavenger sachets was found to be effective in lowering weight loss (0.42%) and SBS (35%) and maintaining tissue firmness. Furthermore, other quality parameters experienced low changes in this treatment. Among the two storage temperatures, fruit which held at 5°C, remained firmer and showed superior in quality than those stored at 15°C.