Post Harvest Management of Horticultural Crops

Modified atmosphere package

Modern packaging systems are packages having both the function of a typical packaging material as well as serves as storage system by reducing the physiological activity of produce and preventing the proliferation of pathogens.
I. Modified atmosphere package - MAP
MAP does control of gas concentration (O2 and CO2) in atmosphere surrounding the commodity. Oxygen and CO2 can be controlled by the chemical (eg. polymers type) or physical (thickness) characteristics of the film and holes in the film. Oxygen and CO2 flux through the hole is propositionally greater in magnitude than water vapour and C2H4 flux because of their flux is driven by comparatively large concentration gradients. Oxygen diffuses faster than CO2 through hole on account of its grater diffusion coefficient. In contrast, all plastic films are relatively more permeable to CO2 than O2. Both CO2 than O2 (reactive gas) can be chemically scrubbed from packages and filled with inert gas like N2.