Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) on Physicochemical Characteristics of  Zaferani Peach during Storage

‘Zaferani’ peach، an important native Iranian fruit، is a highly perishable fruit of limited shelf life. In the present research، effects of modified atmosphere packaging with three gas combinations (5% CO2 + 2% O2، 10% CO2 + 2% O2 and Air) and two packaging films (Polypropylene and Low Density PolyEthylene (LDPE)) on physicochemical characteristics and shelf life of ''Zaferani'' peach were evaluated for a duration of 9 weeks. Fruits were placed in cold storage of 1oC and 90% Relative Humidity (RH). Packaged fruits were weekly removed from storage and left at room temperature for 24hr، after which such different quality parameters as weight loss، firmness، total soluble solids، titratable acidity، pH، vitamin C، ethylene production and TSS/TA ratio were assessed. Results indicated that such parameters as firmness، TA and vitamin C decreased while others increased during storage. LDPE film maintained the pH، TA and vitamin C at a higher level as compared with polypropylene film. Polypropylene film proved more effective in preservation of fruit firmness and TSS. Gas combination of 10% CO2 + 2% O2 more effectively maintained the parameters of firmness، pH، TA and TSS/TA ratio than the other gas combination of 5% CO2 + 2% CO2. There was no significant difference among treatments in vitamin C content. Ethylene production in the gas combination of 10% CO2 + 2% O2 was less than those in other treatments. Thus it can be concluded that packaging of ‘Zaferani’ peach in LDPE bags along with a gas combination treatment of 10% CO2 + 2% O2 maintains such quality parameters as pH، TA، vitamin C and TSS/TA ratio at their desirable states.