Effect of Active Atmosphere Packaging using Natural Fungicide on Quality Characteristics and Shelf Life of Kinnow Fruit

The present study was carried out to evaluated the influence of active packaging parameters i.e., dose of scavenger (3-5 g), fungicide concentration (5-7%), and polythene thickness (100-200 gauge) on the postharvest quality and shelf life of Citrus reticulata (kinnow) under cold storage. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Box Behnken Design (BBD) was employed to model and optimize the effects on key quality attributes, including O2 and CO2 gas concentration, physiological loss in weight, firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, color difference, microbial load, and shelf life. Results indicated that higher doses of scavenger, increased fungicide concentration, and thicker films significantly (p < 0.05) reduced O₂ and CO₂ levels, delayed ripening, retained firmness and nutritional quality, and minimized microbial growth, ultimately extending shelf life up to 65 days. The mathematical model suggested a high coefficient of determination with optimum conditions as 5 g dose of scavenger, 6.83% fungicide concentration and 192.12 gauge polythene thickness. A non-significant (p<0.05) difference was observed in the actual and predicted values of dependent variables. The findings suggest that active packaging incorporating optimized combinations of scavengers, natural fungicides, and polymer thickness can effectively preserve the quality of kinnow during cold storage. This approach offers a promising, low-residue alternative to conventional chemical treatments for enhancing citrus shelf life in postharvest handling systems.