SUMMARY
EMANAULI, Postgraduate Program Brawijaya University
Arumanis mango is one of tropical fruits, which considered to be moderately perishable fruits. At ambient temperature the fruits quality decreased after 6 days. The purpose of this research is to study the effect of oxygen concentration and air flow rate in controlled atmosphere storage (CAS) on fruit quality. Randomaized Block Design was used in this experiment and each treatment was replicated 4 times.
Fruits are stored in plastic jars with gas-tight lid, and under a continous air flow of and 5-7% O2 (balance N2), and air flow rate of 0,3, 0,6 and 1,0 l/hr for 20 days at ± 20°C and relative humidity 85-90%. As control, fruit stored in air at 20°C and ambient (27°C). Parameters observed in this research were respiration total acid, moisture content, ascorbic acid, texture and wight loss after 10 and 20 days storage. Organoleptic tests were carried out after treated fruits transferred from CAS into ± 20°C room having RH 75-82% for overnight, which include flavor, taste, texture, fruit acceptability, flesh and external appearances.
The results showed chemical compositions of treated mangoes were not affected by CAS, except for total acids and ascobid acid. total acids of fruit was higher than other treatment was held in 5-7% O2 at 0,3 l/hr (0,064%) and similiar pattern was found in the ascorbic acid content at 1,0 l/hr (12,44 mg/100).
The appearance of treated fruits while in CAS system were much better than control fruit. Highest acceptability score performed by CAS held in 5-7% O2 at 0,3 l/hr (6,20) and the loewst was in 21% O2 at 1,0 l/hr (2,33), while control was 1,0.
Fruit texture after removeal from CAS affected by oxygen concentration and air flow rate. At 5-7% O2 level fruit texture was 0,063 mm/g/sec and 21% O2 level was 0,073 mm/g/sec. At 1,0 l/hr air flow rate fruit texture was control fruit has been very soft (0,137 mm/g/sec)