Effect of film thickness on quality characteristics of cucumber during storage under modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)

Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) stored in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) at low temperature (10±1 °C) and ambient temperature (22-26 °C) with 85-90% and 62-66% relative humidity. Effect of low density polyethylene film in 25, 37.5 and 50 micron thickness on quality parameters such as physiological loss in weight, colour change, firmness and sensory were studied. After 6 days of storage, the PLW was changed 14.38% at ambient temperature whereas less than 1% weight loss was found in all samples at 10±1 °C temperature up to 27 days of storage period. The minimum colour change was observed in sample stored at low temperature with 25 micron thickness followed by 37.5 and 50 micron thickness, respectively. Firmness was good at low temperature up to 27 days while firmness loss was highest at ambient storage up to 6 days. The study resulted that best quality of cucumber was found up to 27 days under MAP condition with 25 micron thickness of LDPE film at low temperature and 85-90 % RH.