Storage of Spinach Under Low Oxygen Atmosphere Above the Extinction Point

The extinction point of spinach was <0.4% but above 0.2% O 2 at 0° and 5°C. Respiration rates were ∼2.3 times greater at 5°C than at 0°C and were similar among cultivars. In 0.8% O 2 atmosphere, O 2 uptake of three cultivars was reduced by an average of 53% and CO 2 production was reduced by 35% relative to those stored in air. Deterioration of leaves was reduced by 30 to 54%, while weight loss, color and chlorophyll content were not affected by the 0.8% O 2 atmosphere. Thus O 2 could be allowed to be depleted to 0.8% in modified atmosphere packaging without quality loss due to anoxia.