CHANGES OF ACTINIDIA KOLOMIKTA FRUIT TEXTURE DURING STORAGE IN CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE CHAMBERS

Abstract

Investigations were carried out in 2013. A. kolomikta cv. ‘Laiba’, ‘Lankė’, ‘Landė’, ‘Paukštės Šakarva’ fruits were picked at the technical maturity stage. The amount of dry matter, soluble solids and texture parameters were established in fruits after harvesting and during storage. Fruits stored for 8 weeks in controlled atmosphere chambers with different air parameters (No. 1–21 % O₂, No. 2–0.5 % O₂, No. 3–1 % O₂, No. 4–1 % O₂ and 1 % CO₂). Dry matter, soluble solids and texture analysis were done biweekly. The amount of dry matter was determined by drying the samples to the constant mass at the temperature of 105 ºC. Soluble solids content was determined by the refractometric method. Fruit texture parameters were analysed by Texture analyser. The results of chemical analysis at harvest time showed that the biggest amount of dry matter and the highest value of flesh firmness were in ‘Laiba’ fruits, soluble solids in ‘Landė’ fruits. The highest value of bio-yield point was established in ‘Paukštės Šakarva’ fruits. Results of analysis showed that dry matter content as well as soluble solids content of A. kolomikta fruits increases during storage in controlled atmosphere chambers. The highest increase in soluble solids content was in chamber No. 4 and the highest increase in dry matter content was in chamber No. 2 compared with fruits at harvest time. A. kolomikta fruits texture changes during fruit ripening with bio-yield point and flesh firmness declining. The largest decrease of bio-yield point and flesh firmness of fruits occurred in two weeks of storage.

Key words: A. kolomikta, controlled atmosphere storage, bio-yield point, flesh firmness, texture.

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2015.027