MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING OF CAULIFLOWER FOR ENHANCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COOL BOT COLD STORAGE TO PRESERVE THE POSTHARVEST QUALITY IN NEPAL

Abstract

In recent years, cool bot storage was introduced to smallholder farmers in Nepal as a low-cost alternative to cold storage. The present study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of different poly films in perforated modified atmosphere packaging on the postharvest life of cauliflower in cool bot-equipped cold rooms and ambient room conditions in the years 2019 and 2020 in the month of December. The cauliflower curds (hybrid variety White Top) were harvested from commercial vegetable growers at a fully mature stage. The compact and mature curds were harvested in the morning and brought to the National Horticulture Research Centre in Khumaltar. The curds were kept overnight for pre-cooling. Four different poly films (25 μ, 50 μ, 75 μ, and 100 low-density polyethylene with 16 perforations were used during storage in two different storage conditions. The study was conducted in a completely randomized block design. Curds were kept at ambient room conditions (15.5°C, 58% RH) for 10 days and at cool, bot devised, cold storage (11.25°C, 96% RH) for 15 days and analyzed for various postharvest quality parameters every 5 days of storage. The results modified atmosphere packaging i.e.50μ LDPE was found effective in cauliflower stored in ambient room conditions with quality perspective but the packaging didn’t provide additive effects in shelf life and quality of cauliflower in cool bot storage conditions

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