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Effect of controlled atmospheres on the quality of white onion (Allium cepa L)

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Abstract

Onion is one of the oldest and most consumed crops in the world. Its quality deteriorates gradually during prolonged storage. In the present study, white onions of the variety “Sierra Blanca” were stored in a controlled atmosphere (CA) for 7 months. The color, total pungency, microbiological load and total carbohydrates were evaluated. Three treatments were applied: control treatment (CT), regular atmosphere at 2.5 °C without controlled relative humidity (RH); (T1)1% O2 + 1% CO2 at 2.5 °C and 60–75% RH and (T2)3% O2 + 5% CO2 at 2.5 °C and 60–75% RH. The statistical analysis showed a significant effect of the treatments and storage time in most of the variables analyzed. The CA managed to preserve the quality of the onion during the storage period while the control bulbs exhibited greater deterioration. These increased 2.9 times their level of pungency, had a higher microbial load and showed a very noticeable color change at the end of storage with respect to freshly harvested onions and those stored in a CA. They had a more yellow-green coloration. Both CA treatments were effective in preserving onion quality, but a more positive effect for T1 than T2 was observed on most of the parameters evaluated.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Fundacion Produce Chihuahua A.C and by Sistema Producto Cebolla of the State of Chihuahua, Mexico. We also thank M. C. Hilda Karina Saenz-Hidalgo for the support provided in the laboratory analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas y Forestales, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Km 2.5, Carretera Delicia - Rosales SN, A.P 253, C.P. 33000, Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico

    Irving J. Ríos-González

  2. Unidad Delicias, Coordinacion en Tecnología de Productos Hortofrutícolas y Lácteos, Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A. C, Avenida Cuarta Sur No. 3820, Fraccionamiento Vencedores del Desierto., CP. 33089 Cd., Delicias, Chihuahua, Mexico

    Alexandro Guevara-Aguilar, Juan Pedro Sida-Arreola, Esteban Sánchez, Mónica Alvarado-González & Celia Chávez-Mendoza

  3. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias, Campo Experimental La Campana, Km. 33.3 Carretera Chihuahua-Ojinaga., C.P. 32910 Cd., Aldama, Chihuahua, Mexico

    Juan Oswaldo Ronquillo-Aboite

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  1. Irving J. Ríos-González
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  2. Alexandro Guevara-Aguilar
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  3. Juan Pedro Sida-Arreola
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Correspondence to Celia Chávez-Mendoza.

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Ríos-González, I.J., Guevara-Aguilar, A., Sida-Arreola, J.P. et al. Effect of controlled atmospheres on the quality of white onion (Allium cepa L). J Food Sci Technol 55, 3564–3574 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-018-3282-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-018-3282-z

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