This study was conducted to determine CO2 treatment condition to extend the shelf-life of ‘Seolhyang' strawberry. Fresh strawberries with red color on 80% of the fruit surface were harvested. The samples at two different stages (on the 1st and 3rd day after harvest) were placed in a gas-tight chamber with 0, 5, 15, or 30% CO2 concentration for 3 hours at 4℃. Then, the strawberry samples were immediately packaged in a PET tray and stored at 4℃. The carbon dioxide treatment was effective in maintaining the quality of ‘Seolhyang’ strawberries treated on the 1st day after harvest. These samples had higher firmness, lower redness, softening index, and decay rate compared to samples treated on the 3rd day after harvest. Treatment with both 15 and 30% of CO2 concentration on the 1st day after harvest induced an increase of firmness of ‘Seolhyang’ strawberry after the treatment. Samples treated with 15 and 30% CO2 the 1st day after harvest maintained quality for 10 days. However, samples treated with CO2 on the 3rd day after harvest lost marketability at 10 days of storage. At the atmosphere containing 30% CO2 on the 1st day after harvest was most effective in reducing decay rate and fruit softening, and maintaining bright red color of strawberries among different CO2 concentrations. Therefore, a 30% CO2 treatment within one day after harvest can be a practical postharvest technology to extend shelf-life of ‘Seolhyang’ strawberry.

• 김지강(국립원예특작과학원 저장유통연구팀) | Ji-Gang Kim Corresponding author
• 최지원(국립원예특작과학원 저장유통연구팀) | Ji-Woen Choi
• 박미희(국립원예특작과학원 저장유통연구팀) | Me-Hea Park