Abstract
This study explored the impact of three packaging materials (wooden boxes, corrugated fiber boxes, shrink-wrapped boxes) combined with two ethylene scrubbers (1-MCP, KMnO(4)) on the shelf life of Golden Delicious apples. While previous research has extensively studied the effects of packaging and ethylene inhibitors independently, the novelty of this work lies in its combined evaluation of these factors under ambient storage conditions over an extended period of 160 days. The study specifically addresses a research gap by directly comparing the efficacy of 1-MCP and KMnO(4) within different packaging environments, offering insights into their combined influence on key quality parameters such as firmness, juice yield, rot incidence, physiological loss in weight (PLW), acidity, and total soluble solids (TSS). Findings revealed that 1-MCP-treated apples, particularly when shrink-wrapped, experienced minimal reductions in firmness and juice yield, with significantly lower rot incidence and physiological loss in weight (PLW) compared to KMnO(4)-treated and control apples. Additionally, while acidity and juice content naturally declined over time, and TSS initially increased before decreasing, 1-MCP-treated apples exhibited more stable quality attributes. The study also noted a slower decline in organoleptic quality with 1-MCP and shrink-wrap packaging. The research concludes that the combination of 1-MCP treatment and shrink-wrap packaging most effectively extends the shelf life of Golden Delicious apples, highlighting the importance of integrated approaches to post-harvest management. This study provides a novel framework for improving storage techniques, particularly for ambient conditions where shelf life extension is most challenging.