Effects of ultrasound and high pressure argon on physico-chemical properties of white mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) during postharvest storage

• Effects of ultrasound and high-pressure argon on physico-chemical properties of mushroom during storage.
• NMR showed 4 distinct compartments of mushroom tissue.
• All treatments showed positive effects on physico-chemical parameters of mushrooms during preservation.
• UH treatment extended shelf-life for at least 9 d at 4 °C.

Effects of high pressure argon (H), ultrasound (U) and their combination treatments (UH) on physico-chemical characteristics of white mushrooms were studied during 9 d of postharvest storage at 4 °C. H treated samples exhibited the smallest weight loss and respiration rate compared to all other samples. Mass losses after 9 d of storage were 3.01%, 5.09%, 5.39% and 9.59% for H, UH, U and untreated mushrooms, respectively. Furthermore, U treated samples showed lower polyphenol oxidase activity (PPO, E.C. 1.14.18.1) during storage while UH treated samples showed a slight increase in antioxidant capacity during storage and also experienced reduced mass loss and respiration rate. In addition, treated samples were effective in retaining mushrooms colour changes compared to control. Physico-chemical properties of differently treated mushrooms (UH, H and U) stored at 4 °C were significantly different (p < 0.05) from control.