Abstract:
To explore the effects of different e-commerce packaging combined with blue light irradiation on the postharvest quality of blueberries, this study used
Vaccinium corymbosum 'Bluecrop' blueberries as the test material and compared the preservation effects of five common e-commerce packaging methods, namely household plastic wrap (HPW), open preservation box (OPC), zippered preservation bag (WPF), window preservation paper box (TPP), and sealed film preservation box (SFC), under 40 LX blue light (440–505 nm) irradiation for 12 days. The results showed that SFC performed best in physical properties. SFC had the best water vapor barrier property, moderate O
2/CO
2 gas barrier property, and good LED blue light transmittance among the tested packaging methods. These physical characteristics created a high-humidity, mild modified atmosphere (MA) environment for blueberries, facilitating moderate CO
2 accumulation without reaching detrimental levels, while allowing effective transmission and action of the blue light. This combination was considered to form a synergistic environmental stress, effectively regulating the postharvest physiology of blueberries. All packaging treatments delayed the deterioration of blueberry quality to some extent, with the SFC group showing the most significant effect. This packaging significantly inhibited the respiration rate and ethylene release of blueberries, which were 41.14% and 34.63% lower than the control group, respectively, effectively delaying the aging process of the fruit. By the end of the shelf life (day 12), the SFC group exhibited significantly higher fruit firmness. Meanwhile, the decay rate of the SFC group was only 0.41 times that of the control group. In terms of active substances and antioxidant capacity, SFC packaging performed well. It effectively promoted the continuous accumulation of active substances such as anthocyanins and flavonoids in blueberry fruits and significantly inhibited the decline of total phenols during storage, maintaining a high content of bioactive components. Additionally, the DPPH free radical scavenging capacity and of blueberries under SFC packaging were significantly higher than those of other groups, reaching their peak in the middle and later stages of storage. These results indicated that SFC treatment helped resist postharvest senescence by maintaining high antioxidant activity. SFC packaging was most effective in reducing the loss of internal free water in fruits, maintaining a high proportion of bound water and cell structure integrity. Magnetic resonance imaging results showed that the water distribution state of blueberries in the SFC group after 12 days on the shelf was the closest to that of fresh samples, confirming its excellent water retention effect. This study demonstrates that the sealed-film preservation box (SFC), combined with LED blue light irradiation, synergistically creates a favorable micro-environment through its optimal physical barrier and light transmission properties, encompassing humidity control, modified atmosphere, and light stress. This integrated approach effectively maintains the storage quality, physiological activity, and nutritional value of postharvest blueberries.