Maintaining quality of wild vegetables (Aster glehni and Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus) from Ulleungdo(Island), Korea by modified atmosphere packaging

Wild vegetables, Aster glehni and Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus, produced from Ulleungdo (Island), Korea were packaged with 30 μm polypropylene (PP), 30 μm antifogging oriented polypropylene (A-OPP), 30 μm microperforated antifogging oriented polypropylene (MiA-OPP), 30 μm macroperforated low density polyethylene (Ma-LDPE), and 20 μm macroperforated high density polyethylene (Ma-HDPE), stored at 4, 10, and 20oC. Concentrations of O2 and CO₂ in the packages were not modified by Ma-LDPE and Ma-HDPE. Weight loss was retarded by PP, A-OPP, MiA-OPP, especially as storage temperature decreased. Soluble solids were not affected by packaging materials. pH slightly decreased in LDPE and Ma-HDPE. Appearance, color, and overall acceptability of both vegetables stored at 4oC in PP or MiA-OPP showed the highest sensory score. These results suggest that packaging with PP or MiA-OPP films and storage at 4oC could be a useful method to maintain quality of the wild vegetables.