Postharvest Quality Changes of Kimchi Cabbage 'Choongwang' Cultivar as Influenced by Postharvest Treatments

Abstract

Kimchi cabbage 'Choongwang' cultivar is mainly cultivated during summer in Gangneung area. 'Choongwang' cultivar was harvested in late July, applied with predrying, room cooling, and forced air cooling, and then packaged with/without 0.02 mm HDPE film to estimate the effect of postharvest treatment on quality characteristics (weight loss, trimming loss, firmness, SSC, color index, sensory evaluation) during 8 week storage at 2 degrees C. Kimchi cabbage without 0.02 mm HDPE film showed high weight loss up to 13-20% while those of with liner were significantly lower. Also forced air cooling among the postharvest treatments was effective to reduce both weight loss and trimming loss. Appearance and freshness in sensory evaluation were the important factors in estimating good quality during storage. Liner treatment with forced air cooling showed highly significant for maintaining appearance and freshness (P <= 0.01). Color index was no differences between with/without 0.02 mm HDPE film and postharvest treatments. After 6 weeks storage in without 0.02 mm HDPE film with room cooling or control appearance was severely damaged and also internal browning was found. While in with 0.02 mm HDPE film internal browning was found after 8 weeks storage, just in room cooling or predrying treatment.