Effect of Temperature and Modified Atmosphere on Respiration Properties of Litchi Fruit

Abstract:

In order to provide the elementary data for the modified atmosphere packaging and storage of litchi fruit,the respiration rate,respiratory quotient and fermentive gas concentrations of litchi respiration were studied by using the closed system method under different temperatures and environmental modified atmospheres in this study.Results showed that the relationship between temperature and initial respiration rate accorded with the Arrhenius law.The low O2/high CO2 could significantly inhibit the respiration rate of litchi;that no manifest correlation was observed between respiratory quotient of litchi fruit and temperature as well as modified atmosphere;and that temperature had a significant impact on the O2 ferment concentration of litchi fruit,which increased from 5.19% to 7.77% with about 50% increment accordingly as temperature rose from 5 ℃ to 25 ℃.