Changes in Quality Characteristics of Wild Root Vegetables during Storage

전처리 근채류의 저장과정중의 품질평가

During the peeling, cutting, and shredding of wild root vegetables, the surface is exposed to air. This results in a rapid deterioration in quality and an increase in the potential of contamination by microorganisms, both of which reduce the shelf-life of wild root vegetables in retail markets. Thus, in this study, the effects of various washing treatments on the quality of wild root vegetables, including lotus root, burdock root, and bellflower root, were investigated at 10 and $24^{\circ}C$. Lotus root, burdock root and bellflower root were washed with 0.2% acetic acid (AA), 0.2% citric acid (CA), 500 ppm acidified sodium chlorite (ASC), and tap water (TW), which was used as a control, and stored at $10^{\circ}C$ and $24^{\circ}C$. The changes in total plate counts, coliform groups, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, color, pH, and exterior appearance of the samples were then evaluated. The pH and initial microbial contamination levels were reduced when the root vegetables were washed with AA, CA, and ASC. In particular, initial population levels of total plate counts and coliform groups were not detected in lotus root and burdock root that had been washed with ASC and their growth was significantly (p<0.05) inhibited during storage at 10 and $24^{\circ}C$ when compared to the control (TW). In addition, the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities of the root vegetables washed with AA, CA and ASC were lower than that of root vegetables washed with TW. ASC was determined to be the most effective treatment for preventing microbial growth, tissue softening, and the development of browning and an unpleasant smell. At $10^{\circ}C$, the overall qualities of the wild root vegetables were maintained longer when compared to $24^{\circ}C$.

현재 전처리 농산물 중 소비비율이 높은 세척 근채류(연근, 우엉, 도라지)의 침지액의 효과 및 저장온도에 따른 품질 변화를 연구하였다. 본 연구의 대상인 근채류의 품질변화는 근채류의 종류와 온도, 저장기간에 따라 pH, 색도, 경도 등의 변화에 차이를 보였으며, 특히 $24^{\circ}C$에는 전처리 근채류의 품질변화가 빨라 $10^{\circ}C$에 저장한 근채류보다 품질유지기간이 평균 3~4일 정도 단축되었다. 침지액에 따른 미생물학적 품질변화 결과를 분석해본 결과, ASC 처리에 의하여 근채류의 초기 총균수 및 대장균군수가 가장 유의적으로 감소하여 미생물 억제 효과가 뚜렷이 나타났다. 연근 도라지에 AA, CA, ASC 처리한 처리군은 초기 PPO 활성을 유의적으로 낮추는데 효과적이었지만, 우엉의 경우 ASC 처리에 의한 갈변 억제 효과가 나타나지 않았다. AA 처리한 도라지의 경우 TW 처리군에 비하여 오히려 경도가 빠르게 감소하여 품목에 따른 침지 방법에 차이를 두어야 함을 확인할 수 있었다. 따라서 세척 근채류는 품목에 따라 저장온도와 침지방법이 품질에 영향을 미치므로 적절한 저장온도 및 세척액 사용과 포장방법을 유지한다면 품질의 안전성을 확보하여 품질유지기한을 연장할 수 있을 것이라고 사료된다.