The effect of ultraviolet irradiation (UV-C) on chilling injury of cucumbers during cold storage

KASIM R., KASIM M. U.

JOURNAL OF FOOD AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT, vol.6, no.1, pp.50-54, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 6 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF FOOD AGRICULTURE & ENVIRONMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.50-54
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Pre-storage exposure of cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Silor) with ultraviolet irradiation (UV-C) for 3, 5, 10 or 15 min reduced chilling injury until 10 days of storage at 5 degrees C. Electrolyte leakage (EL) of samples treated for 15 min with UV-C was lower than those of the other UV-C treatments and control samples at the 10(th) day of storage at 5 degrees C. The green col our of UV-C-treated cucumbers was maintained better during storage than that of the control samples, but differences among the treatments were not significant. Weight loss of cucumbers in all UV-C treatments was higher than in control at 5 degrees C, and also weight loss of cucumber at 5 degrees C was higher than at 10 degrees C due to chilling injury. Fruit firmness decreased in all treatments at 5 degrees C, but it remained high in samples at 10 degrees C. The results suggest that UV-C treatments could be a useful non-chemical method to delay chilling injury and deterioration of other quality characteristics of cucumber at 5 degrees C.