Changes in Quality Characteristics of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Fruit Packed with Perforated Polyethylene Terephthalate During Cold Storage

This study evaluated the effects of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) treatments with different numbers of holes on the preservation of strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) fruit. For this purpose, PET treatments with different holes were evaluated for respiration rate, weight loss, color (L*, a*, and b*) changes, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA), vitamin C, total phenolics, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP), and individual phenolics. Analysis has shown that weight loss increases as storage time increases. It has been determined that PET 2 treatment is more effective than PET 1 in terms of weight loss and respiratory rate. During the storage, TA and SSC were lower in PET 2, while the vitamin C content was higher. It was determined that PET treatments had different effects on color parameters, total phenolics, and total flavonoids. Particularly in the PET 2, total flavonoids and DPPH activity was significantly higher during storage. It has been determined that catechin is the major content in strawberry tree fruit, which increases in both treatments with the progress of cold storage. When the 10 individual phenolics examined were evaluated, storage time and PET treatments had different effects. The significant effect of PET treatments continued only for epicatechin and protocatechuic acid during storage. As a result, it has been shown that PET 2 treatment is more effective in preserving fruit quality and nutritional values.