title: In-package atmospheric pressure cold plasma treatment of cherry tomatoes.
abstract: Cold plasma is increasingly under research for decontamination of foods, especially fresh fruits and vegetables. The effect of cold plasma on food quality, however, remains under researched. This study investigates the effects of cold plasma generated within a sealed package from a dielectric barrier discharge on the physical quality parameters and respiration rates of cherry tomatoes. Respiration rates and weight loss were monitored continuously, while other parameters are reported at the end of storage period. Differences among weight loss, pH and firmness for control and treated cherry tomatoes were insignificant towards the end of storage life. Changes in respiration rates and colour of tomatoes were recorded as a function of treatment, which were not drastic. The results implicate that cold plasma could be employed as a means for decontamination of cherry tomatoes while retaining product quality.
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
authors.forename: Nrusimha Nath
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1, Ireland; Department of Food Science, Purdue Agriculture, Purdue University, 745 Agriculture Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Keener
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Sciences and National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Mosnier
authors.affiliation: BioPlasma Research Group, School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Dublin Institute of Technology, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin 1, Ireland; School of Chemical Engineering, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. Electronic address: pjcullen@dit.ie.
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Cullen
mesh_terms: D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005516:Food Microbiology; D018857:Food Packaging; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010858:Pigmentation; D058626:Plasma Gases
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Barrier discharge; Cold plasma; Nonthermal; Quality; Respiration rate; Spectroscopy; Tomato