Influence of sulfur dioxide-emitting polyethylene packaging on blueberry decay and quality during extended storage

• Published in: Postharvest biology and technology 2020-02, Vol.160, p.111045, Article 111045
• Main Authors: Saito, Seiya, Obenland, David, Xiao, Chang-Lin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric gases; Berries; Beryl; Bleaching; Blueberries; Botrytis cinerea; Carbon dioxide; Commodities; Decay; Draper protein; Fruits; Linings; Mycelia; Oxygen; Packages; Packaging; Polyethylene; Polyethylenes; Sheets; Shrivel; Sodium metabisulfite; Sulfur; Sulfur dioxide; Water loss
• ISSN: 0925-5214; 1873-2356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2019.111045

•Sulfur dioxide (SO2)-emitting liners reduced gray mold in stored blueberries.•SO2 in combination with modified atmosphere (MA) were more effective than MA alone.•Liners with less vent area were more effective in reducing weight loss.•SO2-emitting liners with MA are an effective means of preserving blueberry quality. Blueberries are highly susceptible to decay after harvest and application of sulfur dioxide (SO2) has been shown to effectively control decay during extended storage. Box liners are in commonly used with other commodities to reduce water loss. In 2017 three varieties, ‘Emerald’, Jewel’ and ‘Misty’, were obtained from commercial packing houses. They were contained in plastic clamshells with 12 clamshells per box. We examined: 1) two liners that continuously emitted SO2 from sodium metabisulfite incorporated into the liner film. These ventilated with holes that comprised 0.3 % or 0.9 % of the liner surface area; 2) two solid, non-ventilated liners designed to develop a modified atmosphere (MA) during storage, either alone or with SO2 emitting sheets inside the packages within the liners; 3) control packages without liners. After packaging the fruit were placed into storage for either 3 or 6 weeks and then evaluated for decay and fruit quality. The effect on decay was determined both by assessing natural decay and by determining the spread of decay from berries inoculated with Botrytis cinerea. In 2018 two varieties, ‘Draper’ and ‘Duke’ were tested in a similar manner, except a 0.1 % vented liner replaced the 0.9 % liner, which performed poorly in 2017, and the SO2-emitting sheets were not included as a treatment. In 2018 we measured concentrations of SO2 and atmospheric gases were monitored within the packages. Results from both years indicated that the SO2-emitting liners were effective in reducing natural decay and the spread of aerial mycelial growth of B. cinerea from inoculated berries compared to treatments without SO2. Treatments that combined SO2 and MA (SO2/MA) were the most effective. MA alone did not consistently control decay. The high level of effectiveness of the SO2/MA treatment in controlling decay may be due to higher humidity levels within the packages that would enhance SO2 activity, because SO2 concentrations did not differ among the liner types and concentrations of CO2 in the MA packaging were too low to have had much effect. Weight loss was significantly less in packaging with liners with less vent area, with the least bei