Effects of Chitosan Coating and Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Quality Attributes of the Cucumber (Royal Cultivar) and Modeling the Vegetable Shelf-Life

Background and Objectives: Cucumber includes a short postharvest life and loses its quality fast. Novel technologies such as coating and modified atmosphere packaging are promising methods in preserving fresh products. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use a combination of chitosan coating and modified atmosphere packaging to preserve quality attributes of the cucumber Royal var. and to estimate the vegetable shelf-life.  Materials & Methods: In this study, cucumber (Royal var.) was coated using chitosan and packed under three various atmospheres of A) air; B) active MAP (10% of O2 and 5% of CO2); and C) passive MAP (21% of O2 and 0.1% of CO2). Texture firmness, total soluble solid, chlorophyll content and organoleptic properties of the cucumbers were determined at 5-day intervals during 15 days of storage at 4, 10 and 20 °C. Shelf-life of the cucumbers was modeled under various treatments. Results: Variance analysis showed a significant effect (P<0.05) of four factors (coating, gas concentration, temperature and time) on postharvest properties of the cucumbers. The most change in TSS was observed in Package A cucumbers stored at 20 °C. These also showed the most weight loss. At 4 and 10 °C, firmness was well preserved in Package B; in which, the coated cucumbers included the least firmness loss compared to uncoated ones. Combination of chitosan coating and modified atmosphere packaging positively affected quality parameters of the cucumbers Royal var. Relatively, effects of active MAP were significant at 10 °C. The maximum shelf life was seen for the coated samples stored in active MAP at 4 °C (17 days) following by 10 °C (15 days). Conclusion: Based on the current results, combination of chitosan coating and active MAP can be suggested for the packaging of cucumbers (Royal var.).