| Author | Anunciado, Roda P. |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AE-99-15 |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The effect of postharvest handling and modified atmosphere packaging for fresh baby corn (Zea mays) was examined as means of maintaining quality and extending shelf life. The optimum harvesting day for the baby corn (Ciba 5414) is 2-4 days after silk appearance. Eight postharvest handling systems were compared in terms of moisture loss, change in total soluble solids (TSS) and total titratable acidity (TTA) and overall quality of baby corn for 7 days. Packing the baby corns in plastic films (LDPE and PP) at 10° and 25°C was the best system to maintain the quality. The temperature of different postharvest handling operations for baby corn with husk (i.e. placed in sack with and without holes under the sun, in cold storage and cooling chamber) and without husk (i.e. ambient, in ice chest with ice and water and in cold room) was monitored. Cooling the baby corn in cold storage for both with and without husk and using ice and water for baby corn without husk were the best method to reduce the heat from the field and respiration. Modified atmosphere for baby corn was created by using low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) plastic film with and without perforations. The change in moisture, TSS, TTA, C02 and 0 2 concentration in the packs and quality of baby corn was monitored for 4 weeks at 10°C. The LDPE film without perforation and 2-perforations extended the shelf life of the baby corn to 3 0 days and have a minimal change in moisture, TSS and TT A. |
| Year | 1999 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Agricultural and Food Engineering (AE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Athapol Noomhorm |
| Examination Committee(s) | Jindal, V. K. ;Rakshit, Sudip K. |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Royal Government of Netherlands |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999 |