Quality, storability, and essential oil content of Ligularia fischeri during modified atmosphere packaging storage.

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) enhanced the quality and storability of Ligularia fischeri. Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) films were used as a MAP. MAP storage displayed lower fresh weight loss than perforated film. The oxygen, carbon dioxide, and ethylene concentration were properly maintained by a 10,000 cc OTR packaging film at 8 °C and 30,000 cc OTR packaging film at 24 °C. On the last day of storage, the off-odor, such as the acetaldehyde and ethanol concentration, was the lowest in the 10,000 cc OTR film at 8 °C and 30,000 cc OTR film at 24 °C treatments. The 10,000 cc OTR film treatment at 8 °C and 30,000 cc OTR film treatments at 24 °C had the highest chlorophyll content, total phenolic content, leaf toughness, antioxidant activity, vitamin C, and less off-flavor. The shelf life of 10,000 cc OTR film was 13 days, at 8 °C storage temperature. At 24 °C storage temperature, the shelf life of 30,000 cc OTR film was 4 days. The MAP storage of the Ligularia treated with 10,000 cc OTR film at 8 °C and 30,000 cc OTR film at 24 °C had the highest essential oil content. These results suggest that the best MAP film for cold-chain distribution was the 10,000 cc OTR film, and the 30,000 cc OTR film was a more suitable MAP film for local distribution without the cold-chain system of L. fischeri.