Consumption Of Strawberries Research Articles

Effects of Gas Concentrations and Temperature on O2 Consumption of Strawberries

The O2 consumption rate of strawberries was determined at 16 combinations of O2 and CO2 and at three levels of temperature in the ranges of 1 to 20%, 0 to 30%, and 5 to 20 C, respectively. Influence of temperature, O2 concentration, and CO2 concentration on O2 consumption rate was studied and an empirical model was developed for O2 consumption rate as a function of these three variables. The O2 consumption rate decreased significantly with a decrease in temperature and O2 levels. Especially at low O2 concentrations, CO2 had a lesser effect on O2 consumption rate. The O2 consumption rate decreased with an increase in CO2 concentration at higher levels of O2.