EXTENDING THE STORAGE LIFE OF FUYU PERSIMMON BY MODIFIED-ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING

The commercial storage life of the nonastringent Japanese 'Fuyu' persimmon (Diospyros kaki L.), grown in Israel, was extended from 6 to 18 weeks at 0C by modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP) in a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film. MAP retarded fruit softening and inhibited development of peel and flesh disorders, which limited the storage life of the naked fruit. The fruit maintained its external and internal quality within the MAP during a subsequent week at 20C in the 0.08-mm LDPE film. Fruit quality deteriorated more rapidly in a 0.06-mm package. The difference between fruit quality in the two packs is attributed to specific physiological effects of the different atmospheric equilibria established due to film thickness.