Effect of 60Co γ-irradiation on storage quality and cell wall ultra-structure of blueberry fruit during cold storage

- The appropriate irradiation doses were screened for keep-freshing blueberry.
- Blueberry fruit irradiated by 2.5 kGy dose had the best preservation effect.
- The pictures of cell wall ultra-structure further illustrated the preservation effect.
- The storage period can be effectively prolonged.

In order to explore the influence rule of 60Co γ-irradiation on preservation effect of blueberry fruit, this research used different doses to deal with “Bluecrop” blueberries. The experimental results indicated that: under the temperature of 0 ± 0.5 °C, the preservation effect of 0.5 kGy irradiation treatment on blueberry fruit was not obvious and 3.0 kGy irradiation treatment can accelerate the ageing process of blueberry fruit in late storage, so 1.0 kGy to 2.5 kGy irradiation treatment were considered to be a feasible method for reducing the fruit rot rate, maintaining fruit firmness and colour, and reducing the loss of nutrients in blueberry fruit during storage, among them, 2.5 kGy irradiation treatment had the best preservation effect on the blueberry fruit stored for 35 days, which fruit decay rate was the lowest (3.35%), fruit firmness was the highest (1.08 N), the degradation of nutrients was the most slowly, the pictures of cell-wall ultrastructure were relatively complete, and the storage period was effectively prolonged to 63 days.Industrial relevanceThe appropriate doses of irradiation treatment are very efficient in reducing the decay rate, maintaining sensory and nutritional quality, and extending the storage period for blueberry fruit stored at 0 ± 0.5 °C.