초록
'남고' 품종의 국내산 청매실을 $30\;{\mu}m$ 두께의 LDPE 필름 봉투에 넣고 탄산가스 흡착제로서 $Ca(OH)_2$, 에틸렌 흡착제로서 $KMnO_4$와 이들의 혼합 가스흡착제를 첨가하여 밀봉한 후 $25^{\circ}C$에 저장하면서 일반성분 및 호흡특성 변화를 관찰하였다. 저장중 적정 산도와 가용성 고형분은 감소하고 pH는 증가하여 숙성중 변화와 반대되는 경향을 보였으며, 청매실의 황화와 과육 연화에 의한 품질저하는 에틸렌 흡착제를 사용함으로써 현저히 억제되어 상온에서도 10일간 선도유지 효과를 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 에틸렌 흡착제를 첨가한 경우는 상온저장 10일 후에도 생리장해가 거의 발생되지 않았으며 호흡률의 변화도 거의 관찰되지 않았다. 청매실을 상온 유동할 때 적정 투과성의 플라스틱 필름에 밀봉포장하고 일정량의 에틸렌 흡착제를 사용함으로써 포장내부의 기체조성을 $CO_2$ 농도 7-8%, $O_2$ 농도 2-3%로 유지할 경우 안정적인 호흡패턴으로 생리적 장해를 억제하여 청매실의 신선도를 유지하는데 뚜렷한 효과가 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.
During storage at $25^{\circ}C$, the effect of gas absorbents, such as carbon dioxide scavenger, ethylene absorber, and their combinations, on respiration characteristics and quality attributes of mature-green Mume fruits packaged in $30\;{\mu}m$ low density polyethylene (LDPE) film was examined. Changes in quality attributes of the fruits were observed in terms of weight loss, titratable acidity, pH, fish firmness, color, water-soluble solid, and chlorophyll contents. In the presence of ethylene absorber $(KMnO_4)$, the physiological injury was remarkably suppressed, and there was no significant injury in Mume fruits at $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. Yellowing and softening were also noticeably reduced by the combination of plastic film packaging and inclusion of ethylene absorber. The respiration rate was slower in fruits sealed with ethylene absorber than in those with absorbent-free packaging. Using ethylene absorber, levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide were maintained at 2-3 and 7-8%, respectively, during storage at $25^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. The addition of carbon dioxide scavenger $(Ca(OH)_2)$, negatively affected the quality attributes and respiration characteristics of the fruits. Overall results showed that ethylene removal by gas absorbent in the film packages significantly prolonged the shelf life of the fruits at ambient temperature.
