Modified atmosphere packaging of cactus pear: a mini review

Packaging of fruits and vegetables plays an important role along the distribution chain from packing house to consumers, facilitating handling, transportation, marketing and providing protection against physical stress. Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) technology can reduce the produce metabolic activity, transpiration rate and extend the shelf life. However, an inappropriate design that does not match the metabolic activity of the produce with the material permeability to gases can lead to anaerobic conditions and taste and aroma alterations for the accumulation of fermentative compounds. The modified atmosphere packaging can mitigate the severity of several storage disorders, especially chilling injury, towards which cactus pears are particularly susceptible, but can also facilitate decay development when inappropriate handling procedures preceded film application or high levels of humidity will build up inside the package. This mini-review paper highlights the current status and applications of modified atmosphere packaging in whole cactus pear fruit, and underlines the critical steps to be faced for a better exploitation of this postharvest technology.