Effect of high O2 atmosphere packaging on postharvest quality of purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims)

The effects of high O-2 atmosphere packaging on postharvest respiration and quality attributes of purple passion fruit were investigated. Freshly harvested fruit were placed and sealed into polyolefin (PO) bags with 50%, 70%, 90% O-2 (balance N-2) or air (as control) atmosphere up to 20days at 15 degrees C. Samples were randomly selected initially and at 5-days interval during storage. The fruit packaged in high O-2 atmosphere had lower respiration rate and peel shrinkage than that of control. High O-2 atmosphere packaging had good effect on maintaining high levels of vitamin C, soluble solids content, total phenols, and total flavonoids of passion fruit, and the higher one had better effect. These results indicate that high O-2 atmosphere packaging could inhibit the postharvest respiration and retain good physical properties and nutritional properties of passion fruit.