Studies on Storage Temperature and Application of Packaging Technology to the Postharvest Handling of Zizania latifolia Turcz.

Summaryhis research is divided into three parts. First, to study the effects of temperature, oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration on the physiological and quality changes of Zizania latifloia Turcz. head after harvest. Then, to investigate the feasibility of application of modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAP) to the postharvest handling of Zizania latifloia Turcz. Temperature has a very large influence on the respiration rate of Zizania latifloia Turcz . Lowering temperature to below 5 ℃ can effectively inhibit the respiration and ethylene production rate, delay softing of Zizania latifloia Turcz, and reduce production rate, less the color change of cutting surface, and reduce vitamin C and weight loss. It had a higher respiration rate and ethylene evolution in 20 ℃ then in 5 ℃ when measured 1 week after harvest. In 15, 20 ℃ was 2~3 times the ethylene evolution of the 0 ℃, 5 ℃ and 10 ℃. After 2 weeks, in 20 ℃ was 10 times the ethylene evolution of the 0 ℃.The respiration rate in 15, 20 ℃ was 168.2 and 53.55 CO2 mg/kg/hr that was 2~3 times respiration rate in 0 ℃, 5 ℃ and 10 ℃ at first week. The respiration rate in 15, 20 ℃ was 265.6 and 149.6 CO2 mg/kg/hr. Low temperature effective in reducing respiration, ethylene production and quality. Weight loss in 15 and 20 ℃ at 7 days were . The estimated storage life were as follows: at 20 ℃ , 2~5 days; 15 ℃ , 10~14 days; 10 ℃ , 25~28 days; 5 ℃ and 0 ℃,more 28 days.ow temperature effective in reducing respiration, ethylene production and quality losses at 5 ℃ with MAP of Zizania latifloia Turcz. Both active and passive MAP treatments under 5 ℃ were effective in reduce ethylene evolution , respiration rate as well as reduce production rate, less the color change of cutting surface, and reduce vitamin C and sugar content. It also provided good evaluation in panel text. The active MAP treatment of low oxygen (0~1%) under 5 ℃ was no off-order. The evaluation of panel text showed that the treated active MAP ones had better than passive ones. The deterioration rates of Zizania latifloia Turcz were significantly inhibited when they were stored in bags that were either flushed with pure nitrogen gas or nitrogen gas containing 0.5~2% O2 before sealing. Deterioration of Zizania latifloia Turcz at 5 ℃ was significantly retarded by using air and 1.5% O2 flush to modify the atmosphere within the package. Although active modification implies some additional cost, its main advantage is that it ensures the rapid establishment of the desired atmosphere. Both respiration and ethylene production rates were significantly inhibited under low O2 plus high CO2. The inhibitory effect the active MAP was better than passive one. he gas concentrations of Zizania latifloia Turcz in vacuum packaging were always under low O2 plus high CO2. There is no low-oxygen damage in vacuum packaging. The optimal storage temperatures should be between 0 and 5 ℃. The vacuum packaging treatment at 5 ℃ for 50 days was no off-order. For the best quality maintenance of Zizania latifloia Turcz in vacuum packaging (VAP), vacuum 10 seconds is recommended.