• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.197-203
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• 2019

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of chlorine water and plasma gas treatment on the quality and microbial control of Latuca indica L. baby Leaf during storage. Latuca indica L. baby leaves were harvested from a plant height of 10cm. They were sterilized with $100{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ chlorine water and plasma-gas (1, 3, and 6hours), and packaged with $1,300cc{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}atm^{-1}$ films and then stored at $8{\pm}1^{\circ}C$ and RH $85{\pm}5%$ for 25days. During storage, the fresh weight loss of all treatments were less than 1.0%, and the carbon dioxide and oxygen concentrations in packages were 6-8% and 16-17%, respectively for all treatments in the final storage day. The concentration of ethylene in the packages fluctuated between $1-3{\mu}L{\cdot}L^{-1}$ during the storage and the highest concentration of ethylene was observed at 6 hours plasma treatment in the final storage day. The off-odor of all treatments were almost odorless, the treatments of chlorine water and 1 hour plasma maintained the marketable visual quality until the end of storage. Chlorophyll content and Hue angle value measured at the final storage day were similar to those measured before storage in chlorine water and 1 hour of plasma treatments. E. coli was not detected immediately after sterilization in all sterilization treatments. After 6 hours of plasma treatment, the total bacteria fungus counts were lower than the domestic microbial standard for agricultural product in all sterilization treatments. The total aerobic counts in the end storage day increased compared to before storage, whereas E. coli was not detected in all sterilization treatments. The sterilization effect against bacteria and fungi was the best in chlorine water treatment. Plasma treatment showed sterilization effects, but within a prolonged period of time. In addition, the sterilization effect decreased gradually. These results suggest that chlorine water and plasma treatment were effective in maintaining Latuca indica L. baby Leaf commerciality and controlling microorganisms during postharvest storage.