The Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Fruit Quality of Some Late Session Peach Varieties During Storage

In this research, the effects of modified atmosphere packaging on some quality properties of late session “Blake” and “Monroe” peach varieties were carried out. In this context low density polyethylene (LDPE) based (MAP) applied fruits were harvested from Çanakkale province and they were stored at 0.5 ± 0.5 temperature with between 90–95% relative humidity conditions for 25 and 50 days respectively. Furthermore fruits were kept at 18-20°C temperature and 50–60% relative humidity conditions for 3 days after each storage period for shelf life evaluation. Fruit flesh firmness, total soluble solids content, wooliness, titratable acidity, total sugar and invert sugar content were assessed after harvest and after each storage and shelf life period in peach fruits. According to the results, the reduction of fruit firmness was lower in fruits stored with MA packaging. Furthermore total and invert sugar content was fixed at lower level in same fruits. On the other hand the rate of woolliness was reduced by MAP application. Besides malic acid content was increased in fruits without any application during storage. As a result, MAP application affected the fruit quality of “Blake” and “Monroe” peach varieties significantly until 50 days storage period.