Effect of modified atmosphere packaging combined with potato starch coating in extending the postharvest shelf-life of fresh strawberries

Introduction: Strawberry is a highly perishable fruit because of high water content and susceptibility to fungal spoilage, resulting in rapid post-harvest losses with texture softening, rapid spoilage, and physiological disorders. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) combined with potato starch coating for 7 days at refrigerated conditions. Methods: Fresh strawberries at the red-ripe stage were bought in a local market, Kermanshah, Iran. The uncoated and coated samples with potato starch solution were placed in the stomacher bags, gas flashed using a packaging machine, and sealed with a modified atmosphere containing 10% oxygen, 15% carbon dioxide, and 75% nitrogen. Microbial (total viable count, psychrotrophic bacterial count, and yeast/mold count) and chemical (weight loss and pH) properties of samples were investigated over a storage period of 7 days. Results: During the storage period, strawberries coated in a potato starch + MAP containing 10% oxygen, 15% carbon dioxide, and 75% nitrogen had the best TVC, PTC, yeast/mold count, weight loss, and pH values, recorded by 3.93 log CFU/g, 2.89 log CFU/g, 2.31 log CFU/g, 2.05%, and 3.91, respectively, at the end of the study period (day 7). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that this treatment is useful for maintaining the microbial and chemical properties of fresh strawberries and improving their shelf-life, which is critical in terms of marketability and exporting.