The effects of Postharvest CO2 treatment on the quality and shelf life of oyster mushroom packaged with oriented polypropylene (OPP) film bag were investigated. On the day of harvest, the ‘Gonji-7ho’ oyster mushroom grown by bottle cultivation of Jangheung County, Korea transferred to a laboratory in Wanju County and were cooled in a cold room at 3°C for 1 day and then treated with 30% or 50% CO2 for 3 hours at 3°C. After the CO2 treatment, 400 g of oyster mushroom were sealed into 20 μm thick OPP film bag (width: 29 cm, length: 24 cm) used in the actual farmhouse. The package gas composition, hardness, color change, off-flavor index, browning index, and overall quality were evaluated during storage at room temperature (RT) for 6 days and at 3°C for 21 days. As a result, During storage at RT, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the bag of 30%, 50% CO2 were higher than untreated and shelf-life of oyster mushroom at 50% CO2 was reduced 1 day due to off-flavor while 30% CO2 or untreated was 2 days. During storage at 3°C, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the bag was kept low at 30%, 50% CO2 treatment compared to untreated, the respiration of oyster mushroom at 30, 50% CO2 were lower than untreated during initial 7 days storage at 3°C, but ethylene production were not different. The hardness of oyster mushroom at 30% CO2 was higher, the lightness (L* value) of stem surface was higher, the yellowness (b* value), browning index was lower and odor index was lower than untreated or 50% CO2. 30% CO2 treated oyster mushroom packaged with OPP film bag kept 4.2~16.2% O2 and 4.2~15.5% CO2 concentration in the bag during storage at 3°C, and showed highest overall quality index. Marketable shelf-life was assessed 10 days for untreated, 17 days for 30% CO2, and 16 days for 50% CO2, respectively.

This study was aimed to examine the potential of pre- and post-harvest treatment of chitosan and high pCO2 on the shelf-life of oriental melon fruit. Post-harvest dipping treatment of chitosan and high pCO2 did not bring any significant effect on the freshness of fruit in general, even at 1% of chitosan. Unlike post-harvest treatment, pre-harvest spray of chitosan significantly increased fruit firmness and firmness increase was higher in double sprays than single one. The internal quality such as soluble solid content and acidity was not altered by chitosan spray. No additional effect of high pCO2 with pre-harvest treatment of chitosan was found. Double sprays of chitosan showed significant effect on keeping visual appearance through delaying the incidence of skin browning. There was a potential of pre-harvest chitosan treatment on the shelf-life increase of oriental melon fruit and double sprays were better than single spray. However, high pCO2 seemed not to be effective on the storability of oriental melon fruit.

The effects of combination treatment with sulfur dioxide generating pad (SO2 pad) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on grape quality were examined under simulated exporting condition and actual export to Los Angeles, USA. The ‘Campbell Early’ grape harvested in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi was precooled at 0°C, selected and packaged at 10°C, and stored at 0°C for 30 days. The treatment was as follows: general export packaging (control), only SO2 pad, combination of SO2 pad and MAP (perforated polyethylene film, SO2 pad+MA). In case of control and only SO2 pad under simulated exporting condition, the grape quality changes with storage time were decrease in hardness and brush length, increase in stem browning, and increased in shattering rate. The treatment of SO2 pad+MA was the most effective in preserving the grape quality since SO2 concentration inside the package remained around 2.9 ppm by MA film. Grape exports from harvest to local distribution of the USA took 30 days, and only SO2 pad+MA package showed no fungus, maintained brush length and rachis color, and was lowest at 4.0% of shattering rate since the concentration of SO2 in the package was about 4.0 ppm. As a result, it was considered that the combination of SO2 pad and MA was the most effective way to maintain freshness of grape during long-term marine transportation and extend the shelf-life in exporting countries.