Resumen

VENTURA-AGUILAR, Rosa; COLINAS-LEON, María Teresa; MARTINEZ-DAMIAN, María Teresa  y  VALLE-GUADARRAMA, Salvador. Modified atmospheres, cold storage and darkening inhibitors in postharvest Pleurotus ostreatus. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2011, vol.2, n.2, pp.197-206. ISSN 2007-0934.

Mushrooms present darkening and weight losses during their post-harvest life, which affects sensorial quality for the product; this is the reason why aim of this work was to increase useful life of minimumly processed mushrooms from genus Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) Quélet, by means of plastic film (CP9250 CRYOVAC^®) and a control, three different storage temperatures (2 ±1 ºC, 5 ±1 ºC and 17 ±1 ºC) and darkening inhibitors: a) 3% sodium erythorbate + 1% citric acid; b) 1% sodium erythorbate + 1% citric acid; and c) control. The results indicate that by means of plastic film a reduction in breathing took place, compared with control, reduction in weight of 1%, reduction in loss of brightness and smaller activity of enzyme polyphenol oxidase (EC1.10.3.1). The best treatment to extend useful life of Pleurotus was plastic flm, with darkening inhibitors (3% sodium erythorbate + 1% citric acid) and storage at 2 or 5 ºC.

Palabras llave : citric acid; breathing intensity; sodium erythorbate; useful life; weight loss.