Influence of consumer containers on storage of Giant Red radish

Purpose. To study the influence of different types of consumer containers on storage of radish root crops. Methodology. While conducting research the existing standard methods namely using experimental items and checking the state of preservation were carried out according to “Methodical instructions for conducting research works on storage of vegetables” [5] and “Guidelines for storage of fruits, vegetables and grapes” [6]. The following types of consumer containers were used: a polyethylene bag of 40 μm thickness); tray of PET; a polyethylene hermetically closed ziplock bag of 30 μm thickness; polystyrene tray covered with food tape; cardboard boxes. Findings. Polyethylene consumer containers allow to preserve giant red radish within six months with little difference of storage of root crops between the variants of experiment. Output of commodity products after six months of storage was in the range 88.9 - 90.5%. The most long-term storage of Giant Red radish was gained at storage of root crops in hermetically closed polyethylene bags of 30 μm thickness. The average total losses for the six months of radish storage was 9,5%, where natural losses stood at 8,3%, including the weight loss due to dry matter (where sugar stands at the major part) stood at 13,12% and 86,88% – weight loss due to respiration and evaporation of intercellular free water. It has been proven that cardboard boxes were of the little use for long-term storage of radish. Root crops in this type of consumer containers have been stored for 134 days. Output of commodity products stood at 88% for 4 months of storage. The part of natural losses was 10,4% with the mass loss due to the consumption of solids stood at 25,94%. Originality. Possibility of the use of different types of polyethylene consumer containers for long-term storage of redish root crops has been first proved. The practical value. The proposed types of polyethylene consumer containers can be used for long-term storage of radish. It helps to solve the problem of the whole-year consumption of this root crop

radish root crops; consumer container; loss; period of storage