The effect of CaCl2 and PME prefreezing treatment in a vacuum on the structure of strawberries

Jaana Suutarinen, K. Honkapää, K. Autio, M. Mokkila

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Methods for the improvement of the quality of Finnish frozen strawberries and jam strawberries are being studied in a joint research project between VTT and the Finnish strawberry industry during 1997-2000. The aim of the project is to promote the industrial use of domestic strawberries by developing the quality and quality management of Finnish frozen strawberries and jam strawberries, and to develop different prefreezing treatments for strawberries. In the experiments carried out with Finnish 'Jonsok' strawberries grown in summer 1999, a calcium chloride (CaCl2) and pectin methylesterase (PME) prefreezing treatment was performed in a vacuum. Structural changes in strawberry tissues after the prefreezing treatment were studied by means of instrumental texture analysis and by bright-field microscopy. The firmness values of thawed strawberries and jam strawberries, treated with CaCl 2 and PME in a vacuum, were significantly greater than those of untreated reference strawberries. According to microscopical studies, the CaCl2 and PME pretreatment in a vacuum affected the microstructure of strawberry tissues. The pretreatment seemed to stabilise, in particular, the cortical tissue. The use of the pretreatment affected the effective absorption of CaCl2 and PME into the cortex providing a more stable structure during freezing by reducing freezing damage.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationIV International Strawberry Symposium
    PublisherInternational Society for Horticultural Science
    Pages783-786
    Number of pages4
    ISBN (Print)978-90-66057-75-3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2002
    MoE publication typeNot Eligible
    EventIV International Strawberry Symposium - Tampere, Finland
    Duration: 1 Jan 20021 Jan 2002

    Publication series

    SeriesActa Horticulturae
    Number567
    ISSN0567-7572

    Conference

    ConferenceIV International Strawberry Symposium
    Country/TerritoryFinland
    CityTampere
    Period1/01/021/01/02

    Keywords

    • Pectin methylesterase
    • Prefreezing
    • Strawberry
    • Structure

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