씨없는 수박의 적정 저장온도 및 MA 필름 포장 효과 구명 = Comparison of Storage Temperatures and Effects of Modified Atmosphere Film Packaging on the Postharvest Quality of Seedless Watermelon

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study aimed to investigate the quality changes of seedless watermelon during storage to determine the optimal storage temperature and to identify suitable plastic films for extending shelf life to promote exportation. Seeded watermelon (cv. Dangdanghan) and seedless watermelon (cv. Seedless) were stored at 2, 4, 10, and 25 C under 85-90% relative humidity for up to 40 days, and changes in weight loss, firmness, stem-end browning, water-soaking symptoms, and freshness index were evaluated. As the storage temperature increased, quality deterioration progressed more rapidly, and water-soaking and softening occurred earlier at temperatures above 10 C. In contrast, storage at 4 C resulted in the slowest decline in firmness and water-soaking symptoms, maintaining marketable quality for up to 40 days. However, chilling injury occurred at 2 C, leading to an increased water-soaking index. Therefore, 4 C was determined to be the optimal storage temperature for seedless watermelon. To extend shelf life, the seedless cultivars ‘Seedless’ and ‘1%’ were packaged with various plastic films. The functional film containing zeolite and perlite effectively suppressed water-soak- ing symptoms and reduced firmness loss compared to the control. Although the specific mechanism through which the functional film interacts with watermelon tissue to produce these improvements remains unclear, it effectively delayed overall quality deterioration. This outcome indicates that the film has practical potential for long-term storage and dis- tribution of seedless watermelons, particularly for export-oriented supply chains.