Double-bottom antimicrobial packaging for apple shelf-life extension.

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Materials Science
• Microbiology

Background:

• Controlling post-harvest fungal decay, particularly from Penicillium expansum, is crucial for extending apple shelf-life.
• Current packaging methods often fall short in providing effective, long-term protection against spoilage organisms.
• There is a need for innovative packaging solutions that actively inhibit microbial growth and preserve fruit quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel double-bottom antimicrobial package (DBAP) incorporating inclusion complexes (ICs) of beta-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) with essential oils.
• To assess the efficacy of DBAP containing palmarosa (ICp) or star anise (ICsa) essential oils in inhibiting Penicillium expansum growth on apples.
• To determine the impact of DBAP on key quality parameters of apples, including weight loss, respiration rate, and firmness.

Main Methods:

• Development of DBAP with peelable lids and double bottoms containing ICs of ß-CD with palmarosa or star anise essential oils.
• In vitro determination of optimal essential oil concentrations for antimicrobial activity against P. expansum.
• Inoculation of apples with P. expansum and storage in DBAP or control packages at 23°C for 12 days, followed by quality assessments.

Main Results:

• Apples stored in DBAP exhibited significantly reduced fungal growth (1/3 less), weight loss (<50%), and suppressed ethylene and CO2 production compared to controls.
• DBAP effectively minimized losses in firmness, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content (SSC), and pH changes.
• The DBAP with star anise (ICsa) demonstrated superior performance over palmarosa (ICp) in reducing ethylene production, respiration rate, and preserving firmness, TA, and pH.

Conclusions:

• DBAP containing ICp or ICsa effectively extends the shelf-life of apples affected by P. expansum injury.
• This novel antimicrobial packaging technology offers a promising solution for reducing post-harvest losses in apples.
• The findings validate DBAP as an effective strategy for maintaining apple quality and marketability.