Impact of Harvest Maturity and Controlled Atmosphere on Strawberry Quality Under Simulated Export Conditions

• Published in: Foods Vol. 14; no. 17; p. 2959
• Main Authors: Eum, Hyang Lan, Lee, Ji-Hyun, Lee, Jeong Gu, Chang, Min-Sun, Do, Kyung-Ran, Yang, Haejo, Ku, Kang-Mo, Kim, Dong-Shin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 25.08.2025
• Subjects: Aldehydes; Amino acids; Anthocyanins; Aroma; Atmosphere; Bioluminescence; Carbon dioxide; Correlation analysis; Cultivars; decay; Energy metabolism; Exports; firmness; Food quality; Fruits; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Logistics; Maturity; Metabolic pathways; metabolite profiling; Metabolites; Metabolomics; Organic compounds; Oxidative stress; Peroxidation; Physiology; Plant metabolites; Quality management; Respiration; Secondary metabolites; Sensory evaluation; Sensory properties; Shelf life; Skin; Strawberries; Temperature; VOCs; Volatile organic compounds; Weight loss; South Korea; California; United States; Massachusetts; VOCs; decay; respiration; lipid peroxidation; metabolite profiling; firmness
• ISSN: 2304-8158; 2304-8158
• DOI: 10.3390/foods14172959

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) treatment on the postharvest quality of strawberries harvested at different 50% and 80% maturity under export shipping conditions. The strawberries were subjected to CA and refrigerated container (Reefer) environments at 10 °C, and their quality attributes were then analyzed. Metabolomic profiling revealed significant variations in primary and secondary metabolites and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A pathway analysis revealed that CA conditions altered metabolic pathways related to sugar, amino acid, and energy metabolism during storage. CA treatment effectively delayed the accumulation of anthocyanins and enhanced the levels of specific amino acids and VOCs essential for the flavor and aroma of strawberries. Bioluminescence imaging revealed that CA treatment effectively reduced lipid peroxidation. A correlation analysis showed that certain VOCs and secondary metabolites significantly correlated with lipid peroxidation, indicating their role in enhancing antioxidant activity and reducing oxidative stress. These results suggest that CA conditions are associated with significantly reduced weight loss, the maintenance of firmness, and lower respiration rates in strawberries, particularly in those harvested at 80% maturity, extending the shelf life and improving the sensory quality of strawberries. Therefore, CA treatment is an effective method for long-term export.