Quality changes of fresh-cut honeydew melons during controlled atmosphere storage

Quality, physiology, and microbial population were monitored with honeydew cubes held in air or controlled atmosphere (CA) of 2% 0(2) + 10% CO2 at 5C and 4%0(2) + 10% CQ at 10C. The CA was beneficial in maintaining quality of honeydew cubes. Quality deteriorated rapidly with concomitant increase in respiration rate during the latter half of the 6-day at 10C or IO-day at 5C shelf-life. The shear force of samples was maintained by CA at 10C, but th e visual quality was poor when that benefit was still noticeable. At 5C, an effect of CA was not noted because the low temperature did not allow the s hearforce to decrease. The bacterial population was less on honeydew cubes held in CA than in air. Modified atmosphere with these gas mixtures would b e beneficial in maintaining quality and retarding microbial growth on honey dew cubes, but strict temperature control is essential to avoid anaerobic r espiration.