In this study, we investigated the effects of cooling rate during storage on spring kimchi cabbage from an economic perspective. For long-term storage, kimchi cabbage (KC) should be maintained at a low temperature immediately after harvest; however, a sudden change in temperature during storage may lead to chilling injury in KC. The optimal cooling rate is important for the long-term storage of KC. To identify the optimal cooling rate, KC was cooled at different cooling rates (1oC, 2oC, 4oC, 6oC, 8oC, and 24 oC/day), and then stored at 1oC for 90 days. Thereafter, weight, trimming, total loss, pH, free sugar content, and total bacterial count changes were measured. Spring KC stored at the cooling rate of 6 oC/day presented a lower total loss and better sensory properties than KC stored at other cooling rates; thus, 6 oC/day is an appropriate cooling rate for long-term storage of KC.

Ammonium (NH4 +-N) and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) fertilizers were spread 30 kg/10a and 60 kg/10a, respectively, as additional fertilizers in nitrogen fertilization to investigate their effects on spring kimchi cabbage's physiological disorders during cold storage. The initial weight of spring kimchi cabbage after harvesting was 3.80 kg with two-fold NO3-N, whereas it was 3.22 kg with one-fold NO3-N. After 90 days of cold storage, the total loss ratio became lower as the nitrogen fertilizer ratio increased. The pH increased, reducing sugar content decrease during the storage. Black speck occurrence became higher as the nitrogen fertilizer increased. Mid-rib brown stain and soft rot were observed slightly in kimchi cabbage regardless of the nitrogen fertilizer ratio. Two-fold NO3-N fertilization showed a positive effect on increasing weight and reducing kimchi cabbage loss, but it exhibited a negative effect on the black speck. The method and content of nitrogen fertilization of spring kimchi cabbage may be adjusted according to the usage and storage periods.

In this study, an appropriate modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) condition to minimize physiological disorders while lowering weight loss was sought. To reduce weight loss during storage, kimchi cabbages packed with 0, 32, 40, 48 perforated low-density polyethylene (LDPE) films, with a diameter of 14 mm, were stored in pallet units for 90 days at 1-2oC, and their loss rate, physiological disorders, total bacteria count, pH, and solid content were analyzed. It was found that as the number of holes increased, the weight loss ratio increased proportionally. However, the difference between the perforations was relatively small compared with the sample without film packaging. On the other hand, it was also observed that the lower the number of holes was, the lower the incidence of physiological disorder was because the cold air penetrated through the perforated hole while inhibiting physiological effects, releasing heat and carbon dioxide generated by respiration. Considering the weight loss rates and physiological disorders such as black speck and soft rot, the kimchi cabbage packed with 48 perforated films (73.9 cm2) exhibited the most satisfactory condition. Using this storage condition, along with 2-3oC temperature and 91-95% relative humidity inside the pallet, a highly suitable condition for kimchi processing was obtained to secure kimchi cabbage.

Spring kimchi cabbage was stored fresh for 90 days in a commercial cold storage house. It was sanitized by spraying fungicide on the field before harvesting. The plastic boxes of spring kimchi cabbage were put on the pallet, covered with a 40-hole film, then stacked in the cold storage room at once. The room was maintained for 90 days at 0.7oC after cooling gradually at 2 oC/day. After 90 days, the weight loss was 4.73% and the total trimming loss was 8.26%. The weight loss was 8.08% and the net trimming loss was 3.26% after 90-day storage with partial stack cooling at 2.7oC covered with a 56-hole film. The quality of spring kimchi cabbage after 90-day storage was fresh without physiological disorders.

Fungicide spraying and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) wrapping were carried out for the improvement of storage yield in winter kimchi cabbage. Acetic acid, rox, tebuconazole and fludioxonil were sprayed on the cabbage, and then cabbage boxes were wrapped with 0.02 mm polyvinyl chloride film. The weight loss ratio of wrapped cabbages were 8.62% and 15.71% in unwrapped cabbages. Trimming loss ratio was the lowest in the mixed treatment of acetic acid, rox and tebuconazole in wrapped cabbage. Physiological disorders of 90-day stored cabbage was better in wrapped cabbage, especially with the mixed treatment of acetic acid, rox and tebuconazole. Wrapping and fungicide treatment reduced the storage loss ratio and physiological disorder for storage of kimchi cabbages.

The purpose of this study is to develop a method to cultivate lactic acid bacteria (LAB) as a by-product in the fermentation of kimchi through the use of Chinese cabbage leaves. A method to reduce the initial number of microorganisms using citric acid and ethanol to wash cabbage leaves was investigated. In this experiment, Chinese cabbage leaves were washed using a mixture of 3% citric acid and 7% ethanol and the washed cabbage leaves were juiced and used as a sample. The total microorganisms of kimchi cabbage juice (KCJ) was reduced from log 6.53 CFU/g to log 3.69 CFU/g by washing with citric acid and ethanol, and lactic acid bacteria from log 4.40 CFU/g to log 2.01 CFU/g. The salinity of KCJ was appropriate for the growth of lactic acid bacteria but the pH was too low. The yield of washing, juice extraction, and total were 80.82%, 79.32%, and 64.11%, respectively. KCJ made by washing with citric acid and ethanol was good for the culture broth of lactic acid bacteria.

This study was conducted to estimate the contents of heavy metals in salted vegetable foods from diverse origin in Korea which were sold in Korea. The levels of heavy metals were determined using an ICP-MS. The values of metals [minimum~maximum (mean), mg/kg] in kimchi were as follows; Pb 0.0~0.074(0.018), Cd 0.0~0.027 (0.004), As 0.0~0.024(0.002), Hg 0~0.002(0.0). The weekly average intakes of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury from kimchi take 0.06~0.13% PTWI (Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intakes) that the FAO/WHO Joint Food Additive and Contaminants Committee has set to evaluate their safeties.

The quality characteistics and kimchi processing ability of the kimchi cabbage cultivar ‘Cheonjincheongmayup’ (CC) were analyzed and compared with those of the ‘Chunkwang’ (CK) cultivar. The head weight of CC was lower than that of CK, and the head length of CC was larger than that of CK. CC had narrower and longer mid ribs than CK. Furthermore, the head formation index of CC was lower than that of CK. The firmness and soluble solid content were higher in CC than in CK. The salinity of Cheonjincheongmayup kimchi (CCK) was 2.89-3.02%, which was higher than 1.94-2.10% salinity measured in Chunkwang kimchi (CKK). The initial titratable acidity in CCK was higher than that of CKK, but increasd more slowly during storage. CCK was firmer than CKK; lactic acid bacteria in CCK was lower than in CKK initially, but increased more in CKK than in CCK after six weeks of storage. We found that CC was suitable for making Makkimchi because of its long and narrow mid ribs, saltiness, and slow fermentation. CC should be improved as less hot spicy and less hard texture to use a Makkimchi material.

본 연구는 절임배추의 유통 중 단기 유통시스템에 따른 이화학적 및 미생물학적 품질 변화에 대하여 알아보고, 그에 따른 품질지표를 평가하고자 실시하였다. 여름철에 제조한 절임배추는 탈수 후 바로 저밀도 폴리에틸렌 필름에 포장하거나 2% 염수와 함께 포장하여 실온유통시스템(conventional system)과 저온유통시스템(cold-chain system)을 갖춘 1톤 트럭에 각각 구분하여 적재하였으며 약 6시간동안 유통하였다. 이화학적 및 미생물학적 변화로 품온, 염도, 산도, pH, 수분감, 일반세균, 젖산균, 대장균, 대장균군, 효모 및 곰팡이에 대해 조사하였다. 실온유통시스템의 경우 절임배추의 품온은 필름 내 염수포장 절임배추에서 19.57℃, 필름포장 절임배추에서 19.43℃, 저온유통시스템의 경우 필름 내 염수포장 절임배추에서 10.73℃, 필름포장 절임배추에서 12.90℃까지 증가하였다. 염도변화는 저온유통시스템의 경우 변화가 없었으나, 실온유통시스템의 경우 필름 내 염수포장 절임배추와 필름포장 절임배추에서 품온과 각각의 염도변화가 정의 상관성을 보이며 초기에 비해 1.2배 혹은 1.7배 더 높았다. 산도는 저온유통시스템에서 두 가지 포장조건 모두 약간 증가하였다. 실온유통시스템에서 필름 내 염수포장 절임배추의 총 호기성균과 젖산균수가 각각 7.62 log CFU/g 및 6.77 log CFU/g까지 증가하는 동안 필름포장 절임배추는 각각 5.62-5.85 log CFU/g과 4.33-4.83 log CFU/g의 범위를 나타냈다. 그러나 저온유통시스템의 경우 유통시간 증가에 따른 유의미한 미생물학적 변화를 보이지 않았다. 따라서 절임배추 유통 시 저온유통시스템을 이용한 경우 이화학적 품질 유지 및 미생물 제어에 효과적이며, 실온유통시스템을 이용한 경우 품온 상승에 따른 염도 및 미생물 변화에 유의해야 한다. 또한 염도, 총호기성균 및 젖산균은 실온유통시스템 내 품질지표로 이용가능하며, 산도는 저온유통시스템 내 품질지표로 이용가능하다.