Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Prickly Pear Cactus Stems (Opuntia spp.)

Prickly Pear Fruit and Cladodes

“…The decrease in chlorophyll (total, a and b) was the least in cladodes that were maintained in MAP, and chlorophyllase activity was very low in cladodes held in MAP (Figure 13.5, Guevara et al 2001). Therefore, the slow decrease in chlorophyll in cladodes held in MAP is apparently due to the decrease in the chlorophyllase activity.…”

“…Sources: Batista et al (2003), Guevara et al (2001), Hernandez et al (1974), Laksminarayana (1980, Mizrahi et al (1997), Retamal et al (1987), Rodriguez and Cantwell (1988), Teles et al (1994), 1994) and Fuentes-Rodriguez (1997). composition of fruit and cladodes vary depending on species, cultural practices and weather conditions, age of the plant and stage of development at harvest.…”

“…Packaging cladodes in Cryovac PD960 films created a MA as a result of the high respiration rate of the cactus stems, where oxygen decreased to about 8.6% and CO 2 increased to about 6.9% after 30 days in storage (Guevara et al 2001;. Cladodes packaged in MA had very low weight loss (Figure 13.3).…”

“…MAP reduced microbial activities in cladodes stored at 5°C for up to 30 days (Figure 13.6; Guevara et al 2001). Therefore, packaging of prickly pear cactus cladodes in MA (up to 8.6% O 2 and up to 6.9% CO 2 ) and holding at 5°C for up to 30 days prolonged their storage life and maintained their quality (Guevara et al 2001;.…”

Efecto de las condiciones de operación en los cambios fisicoquímicos y fisiológicos de frutas mínimamente procesadas por deshidratación osmótica

“…Por otra parte, con el fin de conseguir una adecuada relación CO 2 /O 2 , en el envase durante el almacenamiento se pueden realizar microperforaciones en los films que modifican su permeabilidad (Guevera et al, 2001;Fonseca et al, 2000;Exama et al, 1993;Paul & Clarke, 2002).…”