Comparative nutritional and phytochemical analysis of indigenous Pakistani Strawberry varieties along with shelf-life extension using modified atmospheric packaging technology

The present study was conducted to check the nutritional characterization i.e., proximate analysis, physicochemical properties (total soluble solids content, titratable acidity, texture and color), phytochemicals (total phenolic, flavonoids & anthocyanin) and antioxidant capacity using DPPH-2,20-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity of strawberry varieties (festival, chandler and korona) produced in Pakistan along with shelf life extension using modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology. Accordingly, samples were collected from farms and local market for analysis. Results showed statistically significant differences (p< 0.05) for proximate composition expect total ash and crude fat content. Higher moisture content documented in chandler variety as 91.12 & PLUSMN;7.28%, highest ash in korona variety as 1.4 & PLUSMN;0.17%, lowest protein in chandler as 0.95 & PLUSMN;0.13% and highest fat in festival variety as 1.13 & PLUSMN;0.31. Physicochemical analysis findings showed highest titratable acidity as 0.70 & PLUSMN;0.04 g citric acid/100g in chandler, highest OBrix as 8.41 & PLUSMN;0.11 in festival whereas, phytochemicals analysis revealed highest total phenolic and flavonoids in chandler as 926.17 & PLUSMN;53.08 mg GAE/100 g and 180.63 & PLUSMN;15.72 mg/100g, respectively, and lowest 864.44 & PLUSMN;44.16 mg GAE/100 g, 144.84 & PLUSMN; 12.11 mg/100g in variety korona, respectively. The chandler variety displayed highest antioxidant activity (82.09 & PLUSMN;6.34%) and anthocyanin content as 2.74 & PLUSMN; 0.09 mg/100g) however; non-significant differences were documented for color values. Furthermore, shelf life of strawberry samples extended by 09 days subjected modified atmospheric packaging under cold storage for 12 days. For this strawberry was categorized into 5 groups with different gas combination i.e., MAP0 (control group having 0.05% CO2, 20.95% O2 and 79% N2), and 4 treatment groups MAP1 (3% CO2, 15% O2 and 82% N2), MAP2 (5% CO2, 10% O2 and 85% N2), MAP3 (10% CO2, 5% O2 and 85% N2), MAP4 (15% CO2, 3% O2 and 82% N2). Statistical differences (p< 0.05) were found between groups on different storage days (3rd , 6th , 9th , and 12th ) in physiochemical, phytochemical, sensory evaluation, and caloric parameters. In nutshell, the results provide valuable information on nutritional composition, phytochemical characteristics, and quality aspects of different strawberry varieties produced in Pakistan. This information is helpful for food processors in value addition, and modified atmosphere packaging technology for the reduction of post-harvest losses at different supply chain level.