Effects of Different Packaging Methods on the Quality and Metabolism of Mango Fruit during Simulated Low-Temperature Transportation and Storage

In order to investigate the protective effect of mango commercial packaging (wrapping paper and plastic net) and other packaging methods (gourd-like inflatable membrane and inflatable bag) on mangoes during transportation, Vietnamese green mangoes were subjected to simulated transportation experiments on a vibration table at 13 ℃ and 180 r/min for 24 hours, followed by storage at 13 ℃ for up to 20 days. The changes in yellowing rate, disease index, mass loss rate, moisture content and distribution, hardness, propectin and soluble pectin contents, respiration intensity, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) level, relative conductivity, and the contents of titratable acid, total soluble solids (TSS) and vitamin C (VC) were measured during the storage period. The results showed that inflatable bag packaging significantly delayed the yellowing of mangoes and the occurrence of disease, reduced the losses of free water and mass, and decreased the peak values of respiratory intensity and ACS content. The slowest increase in relative conductivity and TSS content was observed for inflatable bag packaged mangoes during low-temperature transportation and storage. Wrapping paper packaging slowed down the rate of change in the contents of propectin and soluble pectin, plastic net packaging slowed down the rate of decrease in hardness and reduced VC loss, and gourd-like inflatable membrane packaging restrained the decrease in titratable acid content. Therefore, both kinds of commercial packaging and gourd-like inflatable membrane packaging had poor protective effects on mangoes during transportation, while inflatable bag packaging significantly reduced the damage caused by transportation to mangoes and maintain higher commodity characteristics of mangoes. These results provide a theoretical reference for mango cushioning packaging and postharvest storage and preservation technology.