Improving the storage quality and antioxidant capacity of postharvest winter jujube by laser microporous modified atmosphere packaging

•Microporous modified atmosphere packaging could improve the storage quality of winter jujube during shelf life.•Microporous modified atmosphere packaging could prevent accumulation of CO2.•Microporous modified atmosphere packaging with 40 holes, 50 μm in diameter could maintain winter jujube quality up to 10 days at 23 °C. Winter jujube is prone to senescence and corruption after harvest and is sensitive to higher concentrations of CO2. Generally, modified atmosphere packaging failed to effectively improve the CO2 concentration inside the packaging. This study investigated the effects of laser microporous-modified atmosphere packaging (MMAP) on the shelf life and antioxidant capacity of winter jujube fruits. The results showed that MMAP significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the increase in total soluble solids (TSS) and sugar content and the decrease in titratable acidity (TA) content in winter jujubes. On the 12th day of shelf life, the TSS content of winter jujube in MMAP was lower than 26.0 ̊B. Compared with the initial storage, the increase in sugar and decrease in TA were less than 1% and 0.1%, respectively, in all cases. In terms of anti-oxidation, MMAP significantly inhibited the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) content and membrane permeability and the decrease in vitamin C (VC), glutathione (GSH) content, and glutathione reductase (GR) activity. It also maintains a high antioxidant capacity and reduces the damage to the cell membrane caused by external factors. In summary, MMAP can maintain the quality of winter jujube during its shelf life.