Effect of modified atmosphere packaging on microbial growth, quality and enzymatic defence of sanitiser washed fresh coriander

Fresh coriander samples were washed in an aqueous chlorine dioxide solution and stored in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) with air (T0), 4%O-2+3%CO2+93%N-2 (T1); 10%O-2+3%CO2+87%N-2 (T2); 15%O-2+3%CO2+82%N-2 (T3); 20%O-2+3%CO2+77%N-2 (T4) at 4 degrees C for 14days. After 14days, the ascorbic acid contents in samples were 24.8 (T3), 22.4 (T4), 19.6 (T0), 18.2 (T2) and 8.8 (T1) mg/100g; the total phenol contents were 59.9 (T3), 53.8 (T0), 50.1 (T4), 44.8 (T2) and 39.3 (T1) mg gallic acid/100g; and the total chlorophyll contents were 1.60 (T3), 1.52 (T4), 1.05 (T2), 0.91 (T0) and 0.63 (T1) mgg(-1) respectively. T3 treatment resulted in the best colour maintenance, the least bacterial growth, and the highest activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase throughout the storage period as compared to others. The data revealed that the T3 MAP condition in combination of aqueous chlorine dioxide washing significantly (P<0.05) maintained the quality and extended the shelf life of fresh coriander.