Changes in Physicochemical and Sensory Qualities of “Goha” Strawberries Treated with Different Conditions of Carbon Dioxide

Abstract

Harvested strawberry fruit is highly perishable because of its soft texture and microbial infestation during postharvest handling. The applications of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) gas on the quality parameters of strawberry harvested in winter season have shown better effects in several studies. However, very little information is available for the same in summer harvested strawberry. This study was aimed at finding an optimum concentration and duration of CO 2 treatment in strawberry fruit var. “Goha” harvested in summer season to increase or maintain postharvest qualities. Fresh strawberries were treated with 15%, 30% and 50% CO 2 for 1 or 3 h and then stored at 4?C for up to 13 days along with untreated control. Strawberry samples treated with 50% CO 2 for 1 or 3 h and both 15% and 30% for 3 h had higher firmness than samples treated with both 15% and 30% for 1 h and control. In general, total soluble solids (TSS) slightly increased or maintained during storage in all samples except control. The values of pH slightly declined whereas titratable acidity showed opposite trends. However, there was no significant difference found among CO 2 treated samples. Lightness ( L* ) of “Goha” samples with no CO 2 treatment decreased gradually while it was almost maintained in CO 2 treated strawberries. Strawberry samples treated with 15% CO 2 for 3 h maintained better quality with higher scores of overall quality and visual texture until 9 days of storage. Samples treated with 15% CO 2 for 3 h also received lower softening scores until 9 days of storage compared to other CO 2 treated samples. These results showed that 15% CO 2 for 3 h condition could be an effective postharvest treatment for maintaining quality of “Goha” strawberry.