The transpiration and respiration as mechanisms of water loss in cold storage of figs

Lentzou, D. and Xanthopoulos, G. and Templalexis, C. and Kaltsa, A. (2021) The transpiration and respiration as mechanisms of water loss in cold storage of figs. Food Research (Malaysia), 5. pp. 109-118. ISSN 2550-2166

Transpiration and respiration are two mechanisms of water loss in fresh agricultural products, resulting in visual and texture degradation. Neglecting respiration as a mechanism of water loss may lead to erroneous results at saturation where water vapour pressure deficit is zero and thus water loss is expected to be zero, however, the existence of a finite water loss is noted. In this context, an analysis of the associated with transpiration and respiration water loss in figs (Ficus carica L.) was carried out at 0ºC, 10ºC and 20ºC and 45.64%, 80.22% and 98.65% relative humidity as well as the air conditions of walk-in cold storage rooms. The estimated transpiration rate ranged between 0.11-1.416 mg cmˉ²hˉ¹ for a water vapour pressure deficit of 0.0-0.98 kPa. The water vapour pressure deficit estimation was based on the difference between cold air temperature and figs’ surface temperature. The respiration rate was calculated at 0ºC, 10ºC and 20ºC as 0.47±0.08, 0.94±0.11 and 2.69±0.17 mLc₀₂100gˉ¹hˉ¹. Quantification of the water loss showed that at 20ºC and saturation, the water loss due to respiration accounts for 3.9% of the respective water loss due to water vapour pressure deficit while on average, the water loss due to respiration accounts for 1.5%, 2.1% and 2.6% of the water loss due to water vapour pressure deficit at 0ºC, 10ºC and 20ºC.

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Abstract

Transpiration and respiration are two mechanisms of water loss in fresh agricultural products, resulting in visual and texture degradation. Neglecting respiration as a mechanism of water loss may lead to erroneous results at saturation where water vapour pressure deficit is zero and thus water loss is expected to be zero, however, the existence of a finite water loss is noted. In this context, an analysis of the associated with transpiration and respiration water loss in figs (Ficus carica L.) was carried out at 0ºC, 10ºC and 20ºC and 45.64%, 80.22% and 98.65% relative humidity as well as the air conditions of walk-in cold storage rooms. The estimated transpiration rate ranged between 0.11-1.416 mg cmˉ²hˉ¹ for a water vapour pressure deficit of 0.0-0.98 kPa. The water vapour pressure deficit estimation was based on the difference between cold air temperature and figs’ surface temperature. The respiration rate was calculated at 0ºC, 10ºC and 20ºC as 0.47±0.08, 0.94±0.11 and 2.69±0.17 mLc₀₂100gˉ¹hˉ¹. Quantification of the water loss showed that at 20ºC and saturation, the water loss due to respiration accounts for 3.9% of the respective water loss due to water vapour pressure deficit while on average, the water loss due to respiration accounts for 1.5%, 2.1% and 2.6% of the water loss due to water vapour pressure deficit at 0ºC, 10ºC and 20ºC.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Ficus carica
AGROVOC Term:	transpiration
AGROVOC Term:	respiration
AGROVOC Term:	evaporation
AGROVOC Term:	cold storage
AGROVOC Term:	measurement
AGROVOC Term:	scientists
Geographical Term:	Greece
Depositing User:	Mr. Khoirul Asrimi Md Nor
Date Deposited:	27 Nov 2025 10:39
Last Modified:	01 Dec 2025 03:50
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3168

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