Effect of modified atmosphere (MA) packaging on glutathione and some otherqualitative parameters of hiratake mushroom

The effects of modified atmosphere (MA) packaging on the qualitative parame ters, i.e, the maintenance of glutathione (an antioxidant), retardation of cap development, and the suppression of disease and mycelial growth during post harvest storage of hiratake mushroom at 15 degrees C using microperfor ated OPP film, PVC film overwrapped tray, and ordinary OPP film packages we re studied. During the first experiment, low O-2 (1.0 to 1.6%) and high CO2 (17 to 18%) resulted in maintenance of glutathione and other qualitative p arameters of hiratake mushroom. During the second experiment, the MA of 15. 5 to 16.5% O-2 and 4.5 to 5.5% CO2 inside microperforated OPP film and that inside the ordinary OPP film packages were beneficial for the post harvest preservation of hiratake mushroom, compared to the control packages. Cap d evelopment was slower for hiratake mushroom packaged in tray and OPP film p ackages. Among the different packaging treatments, mushrooms packaged in mi croperforated OPP film had the highest amount of condensation within the pa ckages during their storage.