Impact of Modified Atmosphere, Temperature and Packaging on the Quality of Date palm Fruit, Sayer cultivar

Disinfection of dry and semi-dry date palm cultivars are carried out with methyl bromide gas, but applying of this gas is restricted by international protocols. In this study, the combined effects of modified atmosphere, heat and packaging as a substitute for methyl bromide were investigated. The fruits were packed by vacuum packing machine. Atmospheric treatments were replaced with four combinations: 70%, 80% and 90% carbon dioxide and 90% nitrogen. The carbon dioxide treated packages were incubated at 35°C, 40°C and 45°C and the Nitrogen treated packages at 40°C and 45 °C for 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Traits including sugar content, relative humidity, soluble solids content and fruit pest infestation were measured. The results showed that there were significant differences between samples in terms of mean infestation by saw- toothed beetle at 1% probability level and for total sugar and total solids content at 5% probability level. The highest pH values were observed at the highest CO2 concentration in combination with the highest temperature. The pest control was completely done in samples treated with 90% carbon dioxide at temperature of 40°C and 45°C, 80% carbon dioxide at temperature of 45°C, and 90% nitrogen at temperature of 45°C. The results revealed that the placing of date fruits in polyethylene packages using (5%O2+90%CO2) and (5%O2+90%N2) treating at 45°C for 24 hours were suitable for disinfection of dates fruits.