Fruits of net melon cv. Bonus II were minimally processed as cubes, wrapped in several plastic materials and stored at 3ºC for 9 days. The following materials were used for packaging: AFG: DuPont polyolephinic film 15µm; HP: DuPont polyolephinic film 15µm, PD-900: Cryovac polyolephinic film 58µm, PEBD: low density polyethylene film 87µm; PP: polypropylene film 52µm; BB-200: Cryovac multilayer film 65µm; PET: rigid polyethylene terephtalat tray. The gas permeability of each film was determined. The gas composition within the packages was evaluated every day during 8 days and the physico-chemical and sensorial characteristics were evaluated on the 9th day. The melon respiration rate was determined before and after processing. The packaging systems did not promote effective atmosphere modification, except for the PET tray which promoted, after the 6th day, an equilibrium atmosphere of 12% O2 and 7% CO2. Physical-chemical characteristics of the processed melons were maintained in all treatments during storage, whereas sensorial characteristics were kept only for the melons in the PET tray. Passive atmosphere modification was not effective for fresh cut melons stored at 3ºC. Probably due to the low respiration rate at this temperature associated with the high relationship between permeation area of the packages and melon mass.
Cucumis melo L.; fresh-cut; cold storage; plastic package
