• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.12-19
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• 2016

This study was conducted to determine $CO_2$ treatment condition to extend the shelf-life of 'Seolhyang' strawberry. Fresh strawberries with red color on 80% of the fruit surface were harvested. The samples at two different stages (on the $1^{st}$ and $3^{rd}$ day after harvest) were placed in a gas-tight chamber with 0, 5, 15, or 30% $CO_2$ concentration for 3 hours at $4^{\circ}C$. Then, the strawberry samples were immediately packaged in a PET tray and stored at $4^{\circ}C$. The carbon dioxide treatment was effective in maintaining the quality of 'Seolhyang' strawberries treated on the $1^{st}$ day after harvest. These samples had higher firmness, lower redness, softening index, and decay rate compared to samples treated on the $3^{rd}$ day after harvest. Treatment with both 15 and 30% of $CO_2$ concentration on the $1^{st}$ day after harvest induced an increase of firmness of 'Seolhyang' strawberry after the treatment. Samples treated with 15 and 30% $CO_2$ the $1^{st}$ day after harvest maintained quality for 10 days. However, samples treated with $CO_2$ on the $3^{rd}$ day after harvest lost marketability at 10 days of storage. At the atmosphere containing 30% $CO_2$ on the $1^{st}$ day after harvest was most effective in reducing decay rate and fruit softening, and maintaining bright red color of strawberries among different $CO_2$ concentrations. Therefore, a 30% $CO_2$ treatment within one day after harvest can be a practical postharvest technology to extend shelf-life of 'Seolhyang' strawberry.