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The effect of modified atmospheres and packaging on patulin production in apples
- Source :
- Journal of food protection. 65(5)
- Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of modified atmospheres and packaging materials on the growth of Penicillium expansum and patulin production in apples. Granny Smith apples were surface sterilized with 76% ethanol and inoculated with 0.1 ml of a 1.1 x 10(7) spore/ml P. expansum spore suspension. The apples were packaged either in polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) and treated with three different gas combinations, viz., 58% CO2/42% N2, 48% CO2/52% N2, and 88% CO2/12% N2, and were then incubated for 14 days at 25 degrees C. Fungal growth was monitored every 2 to 4 days by measuring radial growth from the point of inoculation. After the 14th day, apples were pulped, and patulin was extracted, purified, and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. PP did not inhibit fungal growth in any of the atmospheres tested, and it only inhibited patulin production in atmospheric gas and 58% CO2/42% N2. PE was very effective and inhibited fungal growth by four- or fivefold, depending on the modified atmosphere. Patulin production in PE-packaged apples was almost completely inhibited by all three gas combinations. Gas chromatographic analysis of the PE-packaged samples before and after the incubation period showed that CO2 levels dropped and N2 levels increased for all of the atmospheres tested. Our studies showed conclusively that PE is an excellent packaging material for the storage of apples since it inhibited the growth of P. expansum, thereby allowing3.2 microg/ml of patulin to be produced, regardless of gaseous environment.
- Subjects :
- Fungal growth
Chromatography, Gas
Time Factors
Food Handling
Nitrogen
Microbiology
Patulin
chemistry.chemical_compound
Botany
Food science
Ethanol
biology
Inoculation
fungi
Food Packaging
Penicillium
Polyethylene
Carbon Dioxide
biology.organism_classification
Spore
Oxygen
Radial growth
chemistry
Malus
Penicillium expansum
Food Science
Mutagens
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 0362028X
- Volume :
- 65
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of food protection
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....979a133a835a3787c745c9e80c9f584f