Development of a Controlled-Ventilation Box for Modified-Atmosphere Storage of Fresh Produce

Adjusting beneficial gas concentrations in real time in response to changing storage conditions is important for fresh produce, especially throughout the supply chain when temperature abuse occurs frequently. In this study, a controlled-ventilated box for bulk transportation of fresh produce was demonstrated and tested under variable temperatures. The presented system comprised a rigid container with a miniature blower installed in the opening of its wall for facilitating the gas exchange and an additional wall opening with a metal tube protruding into the inner container’s space. The in-package atmosphere was formed by the balance between the respiratory activity of the produce and the influx of fresh air through the wall openings, regulated by switching the blower ON or OFF. The mass transfer coefficient for metal tubes of different dimensions was measured under modified atmosphere featuring 15% CO2 and 5% O2 at 10 °C. The addition of an air blower increased the mass transfer coefficient by at least 100 times. A further storage trial with cherries was successfully performed at 10 °C and 20 °C. The demonstrated trial featured some significant inputs to increase the knowledge about better storage of fresh produce throughout the supply chain and storage.

​Effect of Modified Atmosphere Storage Conditions on Seed Quality and Longevity of Kabuli Chickpea Varieties

Background: Chickpea is an important pulse crop. The area, production and productivity of Kabuli chickpea are very low as compared to Desi type chickpea. While, worldwide chickpea production is predominated by Desi type (80%) compared to Kabuli type (20%). One of constraints limiting the Kabuli chickpea seed production is the fast seed deterioration process as, they possesses thin and fragile seed coat which makes it more susceptible to infestation of pulse beetle and storage fungi. In addition, the day by day increase in usage of chemical pesticides and increase in health awareness among the people and demand towards organic based products necessitate a new alternative method of seed storage than the routinely used storage methods. Modified atmosphere storage is an alternative method to avoid chemical fumigants, which are said to cause residual effect on seed material and development of resistance by storage pest against insecticides. Methods: The present investigation on modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) was carried out at the Department of Processing and Food Engineering, College of Agricultural Engineering, University of Agricultural Sciences, Raichur during March 2017. Further, its storage and seed quality assessment were conducted at Seed Quality and Research Laboratory of National Seed Project (Crops), Seed Unit, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during March 2017 to May 2018. Result: The results revealed that the Kabuli chickpea seeds stored in the gaseous atmosphere with the combination of CO2 (80%) + N2 (20%) + O2 (0%) [C2] have maintained the maximum germination (92%) followed by Vaccum Packaging [C5] by using 700 gauge polyethylene bag for 14 months under ambient conditions above the Indian Minimum Seed Certification Standards.

Rekayasa Teknologi Penyimpanan dengan Atmosfer Termodifikasi untuk Memperpanjang Umur Simpan dalam Penanganan Pascapanen Tomat

Tomat adalah salah satu komoditas hortikultura yang bernilai ekonomis tinggi dan berpotensi untuk diekspor. Buah tomat memerlukan penanganan serius, terutama dalam hal peningkatan hasil, mutu, dan penanganan pascapanennya. Salah satu tahapan pascapanen produk segar hasil pertanian yang sangat penting adalah penyimpanan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merancang alat yang mampu mengatur suhu dan memodifikasi komposisi gas di dalam suatu ruangan tertutup (Modified Atmosphere Storage, MAS), melakukan kajian matematis maupun statistika mengenai pengaruh komposisi gas serta variasi suhu udara ruang simpan terhadap berbagai sifat fisik buah tomat dan menentukan kombinasi perlakuan terbaik antara konsentrasi oksigen dan suhu ruang simpan untuk penyimpanan buah tomat. Penelitian dimulai dengan pembuatan peralatan MAS dengan berbagai kelengkapannya. Setelah peralatan MAS jadi, kemudian dilakukan pengujian dengan variasi perlakuan konsentrasi gas O2 3%, 10%, 15%, dan 21% dan suhu ruang MAS 10 °C, 15 °C, dan 28 °C, dengan sampel buah tomat. Pengamatan dilakukan setiap hari selama 15 hari terhadap perubahan kualitas fisik buah tomat yang disimpan. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa peralatan MAS dapat dibuat dari bahan-bahan yang tersedia dipasaran lokal dengan hasil yang memuaskan. Penurunan konsentrasi gas O2 ruang MAS dapat dilakukan dengan mengalirkan gas N2 kedalam ruang simpan MAS. Kombinasi perlakuan variasi konsentrasi oksigen dan suhu penyimpanan berpengaruh terhadap parameter laju respirasi, susut bobot, total padatan terlarut, pH, dan kekerasan buah. Secara umum kombinasi perlakuan terbaik adalah perlakuan dengan konsentrasi oksigen 10% dan suhu penyimpanan 15 °C.

Shelf life enhancement of guava (Psidium guajava cv. Baruipur) stored under pilot scale modified atmosphere storage system

Modified atmosphere storage (MAS) structure of 100 kg capacity has been developed for prolonging the shelf life of fresh guava. The influence of MAS on guava was investigated at 10 and 25 °C of storage temperature with unpacked guava as control. During storage study, the quality parameters of MAS stored guava, namely physiological weight loss (PWL), firmness, color (L*, a*, b*) and total soluble solids (TSS) were found to be 5.49%, 143.78 N, 76.20, 5.58, 50.81 and 12.3 ˚brix respectively, after 9 days of storage at 25 °C and were very close to that of fresh guava. The quality analysis revealed that at 10 and 25 °C, guava can be stored up to 20 and 9 days respectively under MAS as compared to control sample having 7 and 4 days at 10 and 25 °C, respectively. Therefore, the developed MAS system can be widely used for handling, transportation and retailing of guava. Practical application The developed modified atmosphere storage (MAS) system has increased the shelf life of Guava up to 20 and 9 days at 10 °C and 25 °C, respectively. This extended period will be very much effective for providing the buffer period to the fresh Guava and facilitate extra time to the farmers for its marketing. The uniquely developed MAS system is helpful for the farmers for on-farm storage of fresh Guava at a large scale and will provide smooth handling and transportation for retailing and marketing.

Storage structures for horticultural crops: a review

Most of the horticultural crops are seasonal, having a relatively short harvesting season, and most of them are highly perishable. Hence, proper storage of the horticultural crops using appropriate methods would prolong their availability. The present article gives details about various storage structures classified into two categories, i.e., traditional storage/low-cost storage technologies and improved methods/ modern methods /high-cost storage technologies. Traditional storage structures can be beneficial for farmers needing a small-scale storage system. These systems include in-situ storage, sand and coir, clamps, pits, cellars, ventilated storage, and evaporative cooling. On the other hand, modern methods include refrigerated storages like cold storages, environment-controlled storage (controlled atmospheric storage), modified atmosphere storage, and hypobaric storage. All the storage methods are equally important and can provide high revenue to the farmers and food industries.

Mathematical Modeling of Respiration Rate of Mango (Magnifera indica)

Respiration rates (RR) have been used as an index for the metabolic activities of Mango during ripening and senescence. A knowledge on respiration rate will be very much needed for enhanced shelf life of Mango particularly during Modified Atmosphere Storage. Hence a work was carried out to determine respiration rates of three varities of mango (Magnifera indica) viz., Malgoa, Banganapalli and Neelum stored at three different tempertautres (Ambient, 24°C and 14°C). Known weight of fruits were kept under air tight condition in the plastic container fitted with a silicon septum. Every day three gas samples of 5 ml volume were drawn from the chamber through silicon rubber septum using a needle and the oxygen concentration was found out using MAP analyzer. The oxygen concentration was determined for 13 days of storage at all temperatures. The respiration rates were determined using experimentally and the values were substituted in formulae method for prediction. The value of the constants were determined using non-linear regression using Sigmaplot 8.0 software. The development of the mathematical model for the prediction of Respiration Rates were found to be useful for further reference.