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. 2023 Feb;103(3):1105-1114.
doi: 10.1002/jsfa.12093. Epub 2022 Jul 14.

A novel breathable package system to improve the fresh fig (Ficus carica L. 'Dottato') shelf life

Matera Attilio  1 , Altieri Giuseppe  1 , Genovese Francesco  1 , Scarano Luciano  1 , Genovese Giuseppe  1 , Di Renzo Giovanni Carlo  1
Affiliations

A novel breathable package system to improve the fresh fig (Ficus carica L. 'Dottato') shelf life

Matera Attilio et al. J Sci Food Agric. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The postharvest management of fresh figs is a susceptible phase that could impair the quality standards. Given the high perishability, their marketing is limited to around the production areas using open punnets and when marketed non-locally the use of modified-atmosphere packaging enables their quality maintenance up to 7-14 days, depending upon the cultivar, storage temperature, and packaging system. We show the results of the effectiveness of an innovative packaging system endowed with a breathable device (Blow Device®, BD) for fresh fig storage. BD was evaluated in comparison with a sealed (S) and a macro-perforated film-based tray (MF), at 2 and 8 °C.

Results: The lowest rot decay incidence was observed in S and BD (5-20% after 21 days). S significantly mitigated rot and physical-mechanical decay rate compared with BD and MF. However, S led to anoxia, with relevant carbon dioxide (CO2 ) content (30-40%), tray volume increasing, and the highest titratable acidity values. The exploitation of BD led to 10-15% oxygen (O2 ) and 5-10% CO2 , along with storage. After 14 days, the figs packed with BD had a negligible mass loss (0.2%) and excellent marketing quality parameters at both temperatures tested.

Conclusion: Exploiting an open or sealed container for extend the fresh fig' storage is not appropriate due to the severe effect of O2 or CO2 accumulation, respectively. BD enables the maintenance of high quality standards for up to 21 days at 2 °C, suggesting it could represent a profitable and sustainable solution to prevent decay after picking and reduce food losses along with wider marketability. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Keywords: MAP; breathable film; food loss; food packaging; fresh figs.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors Giovanni Carlo Di Renzo, Giuseppe Altieri, and Francesco Genovese declare that they are the inventors of the patented breathable device (BlowDevice).

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Evolution of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the headspace over the storage period.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Differential pressure ΔP, with respect to atmospheric pressure, calculated in the trays at every sampling. In MF, ΔP = 0 at every sampling.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Evolution of disorder incidence (scale 1–5) and mass loss (%) over the storage period.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Pictures of figs during the storage (0, 14, and 28 days), with the Blow Device (B), perforated film (MP), and sealed tray (S) at 2 and 8 °C. The product stored at 2°C in a standard open tray is the control. The product in each packaging system after 28 days at 2 °C is showed at the bottom.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Evolution of solids soluble content (SSC) and acidity (expressed as citric acid).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Evolution of CIELAB coordinates L*, a*, and b* detected for figs' peel and flesh.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Evolution of total phenolic content (TPC).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Evolution of firmness over the storage period.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Biplot graph (score plot + loading plot) of multivariate statistical processing obtained from the relationship matrix with the disorder incidence (DI), mass loss (MS), oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide partial pressure (ΔP CO2), acidity, solid content soluble (SSC), L* of flesh (L_in) and peel (L_ex), C* of chroma flesh (c_in) and peel (c_ex) calculated as square root of (a*2 + b*2), pH, hardness, in products stored at 2 °C (blue) or 8 °C (red), in S (filled circle), BD (diamond),and MF (open circle). Product at harvesting is the green circle (fresh figs).
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