Application of modified atmosphere packaging with moisture absorber to extend the shelf life of 'Domenico Tauro' breba fruit

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the packaging under active modified atmosphere (MAP) and its combination with Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) powder as a moisture absorber. Breba fruits from 'Domenico Tauro' cultivar were packaged in polypropylene punnets under gas concentrations of 20 kPa CO2and 20 kPa O2. Batches were as follows: fruit stored in MAP (M); MAP with 3% (p/p) of CaSO4(MG); fruit stored in air with 3% (p/p) of CaSO4(G) and fruit stored in air (C). All batches were stored at 0°C and 90-95% relative humidity (RH). The analysis of gas concentration, weight loss, firmness, acceptability level, mould and yeast counts and sensory quality were measured at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days of cold storage. All MAP batches reached similar gas levels, around 28 kPa CO2and 8 kPa O2after 14 days. MG treatment showed the lowest weight loss, whilst breba fruits stored with MAP (M) showed the best acceptability throughout storage. The highest firmness was observed for G fruits, with values of 4.9 N mm-1after the storage period. Moreover, the combination of MAP with CaSO4was the most effective treatment to delay fungal development, maintaining counts <2 log cfu g-1versus values of 3.9 log cfu g-1reached in C. Thus, the application of MAP showed to be effective in maintaining quality Nevertheless, although the application of CaSO4showed highest firmness mean values, a deleterious effect was observed by decreasing breba fruit acceptability, without significant synergistic effects in combination with MAP except for fungal control.