STUDY OF THE RESPIRATION RATE OF BELGIAN ENDIVE FOR ITS PACKAGING IN PLASTIC FILMS

摘要

Belgian endive (Cichorium intybus) is usually delivered and sold in plastic packages. It would be very useful to know its respiration rate in order to choose the most suitable film to extend its shelf life. The purpose of this work was to determine the influence of temperature, and gas concentration (oxygen and carbon dioxide) on the respiratory activity of endive. The dependence of respiration on O{sub}2 and CO{sub}2 concentration was studied using a closed-system method. Respiration rates were related to O{sub}2 concentration using a Michaelis-Menten equation. Respiration rate was sharply reduced when O{sub}2 levels fell below 10%. Theoretical gas concentrations inside different packages were calculated using a mathematical model which includes the respiration rate of endive as well as the permeation of gases through the plastic packages. In order to verify these calculations with the experimental data, endives were sealed in different films and the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide inside the bags were monitored during a week. The results were in good agreement with the model.