Effects of modified atmosphere packaging on changes of physiology and quality of pine nut at ambient temperature

The changes of postharvest physiology, storage quality and oxidative changes of fatty acid of unshelled pine nut (Pinus koraiensis Sieb.et Zucc.) ‘Korea pine’and shelled pine nut which were cased in 30 μm purple polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag and 30 μm white polyvinyl chloride (PVC) bag, general 40 μm polyethylene(PE) bag, respectively for 180 days at ambient temperature(20-30℃). The results showed that storage condition of low O2, high CO2 correspondingly were achieved by 30 μm purple PVC bag and 30 μm white PVC bag. The 30 μm purple PVC bag and 30 μm white PVC bag were effective to slow down respiratory rate, reduce the losses of soluble total sugars, maintain better-grade percent of pine nut kernels, avoid the decrease of fat content and iodine value, restrain the increase of acid value and peroxide value compared with 40 μm PE bag. Results of the study confirmed that 30 μm PVC bags were advantageous to their quality and storage quality of unshelled pine nut was better than that of shelled pine nut with the same modified atmosphere packaging.