Abstract
The effects of a functional corrugated cardboard box coated with a mixture of alginate and pullulan (polysaccharide film) on maintaining freshness of rape inflorescences (Brassica campestris L.) were examined. Rape inflorescences were packaged in a functional or conventional corrugated cardboard box and stored at 20°C for 4 days. Atmospheric condition in a conventional corrugated cardboard box was almost the same as surrounding atmosphere, whereas gas composition in the functional corrugated cardboard box were kept at lower oxygen and higher carbon dioxide during storage. Therefore, these facts suggest that the changes in gas composition are affected by the gas permeability corrugated cardboard box and respiration of rape inflorescences. The rape inflorescences in the functional corrugated cardboard box kept its freshness with high ascorbic acid and chlorophyll contents during storage at 20°C, and no change in color, flavor and total polyphenol content of rape inflorescences were observed. These results suggest that the storage of rape inflorescences in the functional corrugated cardboard box coated with polysaccharide films is effective for keeping freshness and nutritional quality at 20°C for 4 days.
