Effect of the ice pack treatment in the corrugated box for improving the storage quality of the oriental melon (Cucumis melo var. makuwa) at high temperature conditions during summer Abstract The effects of the ice pack and aluminum coated board in the corrugated boxes for maintaining the quality of fresh oriental melons (Cucumis melo var. makuwa) were investigated. The harvested oriental melons were stored at a temperature of 30℃ for 21 days after placing them in the corrugated boxes treated

more »

... th control, including ice pack and aluminum coated board. The treatment with the ice pack and aluminum coated board was identified to have maintained the relative low temperature in the corrugated box against the high temperature from the environment. For the storage study of the oriental melon, the treatments with the ice pack and aluminum coated board reduced the respiration rate, the development of external color, and total weight loss. All treatments were also effective in maintaining the firmness and decreasing the decay ratio of the oriental melon as compared to those that were controlled. However, the value of total soluble solids regarding the fruit was insignificantly affected by the ice pack treatment. The results indicated that the application of the ice pack and aluminum coated board in the corrugated box played an important role in maintaining the quality of oriental melons during storage. The combination with the ice pack and aluminum coated board had more effective values on the storage qualities for oriental melons than that with the ice pack only. Based on the results of this study, the ice pack and aluminum coated board were the useful treatments for reducing the loss of quality of the fresh oriental melons in high temperature storage conditions.