Effect of some edible coating and packaging on quality attributes of broccoli florets during cold storage.

Broccoli heads (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) Sakura F1 Hybrid were get from private farm in alnuwbaria Beheira Government. Heads were harvested at the appropriate stage of harvesting on 22th and 13th February 2017 and 2018, respectively, and then transported immediately to Horticulture Research Institute, ARC. The impact of edible coatings and packaging on the postharvest appearance and compositional quality changes of separated florets broccoli stored at 0°C were determined. Separated florets rinsed with chlorinated water (150 ppm) then washed by distilled water. The samples were then allowed to dry. Broccoli florets were dipped in chitosan solution at 0.5 and 1% concentration for 3 min. Carboxymethyl cellulose solution at 0.5 and 1% concentration for 3 min and distilled water represented as control. All treatments were dried and packed in non-perforated polypropylene bags (non-PPPb) or micro-perforated polypropylene bags (micro-PPPb) and stored at 0°C for 20 days plus 2 days at 10°C (shelf life). Results showed that loss of weight, decay, off odor, discoloration and peroxidase activity, of broccoli florets were increased as the storage period increased, while general appearance, total chlorophyll and total phenolic content were increased. For the influence of packaging material the results showed that there were significant differences between packaging materials on quality of florets. Broccoli florets which packed in non-perforated polypropylene bags (non-PPPb) had better florets quality as compared with those packed in micro-perforated polypropylene bags (micro-PPPb) during storage plus shelf life. Chitosan at 0.5 or 1% is the huge influence in reducing weight loss%, decay (score) peroxidase enzyme activity, off odor (score), discoloration (score) as well as in maintaining total chlorophyll and total phenolic contents during storage plus shelf life. Furthermore, florets dipped in chitosan 1% and then packed in non-PPPb was the most effective treatment in retarding loss of quality attributes, through the storage periods and helped in retarding deterioration and gave florets with good appearance after 20 days at 0°C plus 2 days at 10°C (shelf life) without decay.