Effects of active and passive modified atmosphere packaging on biochemical properties of cut Dendrobium orchid flowers

Optimal storage conditions are essential to preserving the quality of postharvest produce and cut flowers during transportation, especially to overseas destinations. As a result, this research investigated the effects of active and passive modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the biochemical properties of cut Dendrobium Sonia orchid flowers. In active MAP, the orchid flowers were wrapped in MAP plastic film filled with 5 % carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and 2 % oxygen (O(2)). Meanwhile, in passive MAP the flowers were stored inside MAP plastic film without filling with 5 % CO(2) and 2 % O(2). The experimental MAP plastic films were polyethylene, low density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride films. The biochemical parameters included storage life, respiration rate, ethylene production, internal O(2) and CO(2), anthocyanin content, protein degradation, and electrolyte leakage. The results showed that the average storage life of orchid flowers under passive MAP condition was 9–15 days, depending on the plastic film types. The longest storage life of 15.66 days was achieved with polypropylene film. The storage life of orchid flowers in active MAP was 9.33 days on average. Without MAP (control), the storage life was 7 days under normal atmosphere condition (0.03 % CO(2) and 21 % O(2)). The experiments also demonstrated that MAP efficiently reduced respiration rate, ethylene production, anthocyanin degradation, protein degradation, and electrolyte leakage. Unlike existing research on MAP which focused primarily on extending the shelf life of fresh produce or cut flowers, this study comparatively investigated the biochemical properties of cut orchid flowers stored in MAP environment, in addition to the storage life.