QUALITY CHANGES OF PINEAPPLE (ANANAS COMOSUS 'JOSAPINE') AS AFFECTED BY CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE

Pineapple (Ananas comosus ‘Josapine’) fruits were stored in an atmosphere consisting of 3, 5 or 7% O₂ in N₂ or in air (21% O2; control) with 8% CO₂ for 5 weeks at 10°C. The quality changes were observed based on colour, total soluble solids (TSS), total titratable acidity (TTA) and total sugar. Results showed that fruits stored in 3-5% O₂ exhibited the greatest suppression in value of chroma and TSS as compared to the others. The hue angle, TTA and total sugar in low-O₂ atmosphere for 5 weeks were significantly (p<0.05) higher than air-stored (control) fruit, whilst chroma value and TSS values were lower during storage at 10°C. This study indicates that the quality of ‘Josapine’ was maintained as a result of storage in 3 and 5% O₂ atmosphere for up to 5 weeks at 10°C.