Modified-atmosphere packaging was used to provide respiratory data for apple (Malus xdomestica Borkh.) slices at 0, 5, 10 and 15°C. The maximum rate of O 2 uptake increased with increasing temperature. The lowest O 2 partial pressure to which fruit could be exposed without fermentation also increased with increasing temperature. A mathematical model of film permeability data characterized the effect of fruit mass, film permeability to O 2 , activation energy of O 2 permeation, temperature, and the film type, area, and thickness on O 2 partial pressure for hermetically packaged apple slices. The model identified a minimum (fruit mass × film thickness)/(film area) ratio for apple slices, which would simplify package design calculations.
Reduced O2 and elevated CO2 atmospheres have the potential to control browning, decay and texture changes in sliced apples. Modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) was used as a tool for obtaining respiratory data needed to calculate permeability characteristics of packaging films that will obtain and maintain target gas levels in the package headspace at 0, 5, 10 and 15C. Respiratory data collected for sliced apple fruit include the K1/2 (the O2 level at the half-maximal respiratory rate), RRO2max (the maximal respiratory rate) and the Lower O2 limit for aerobic respiration. The K1/2 and RRO2max appeared to increase exponentially with temperature. The lower O2 limit was approximately 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.35 kPa at 0, 5, 10 and 15C, respectively. Permeability characteristics needed for various storage strategies were calculated based on these data.
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