Respiration Rate Models of Agaricus bisporus under Modified Atmosphere Packaging

The package headspace composition, in terms of O2 and CO2 concentrations, in modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of Agaricus bisporus at 2, 4, 8 and 20°C were respectively monitored within 15h by a gas chromatograph. The respiration rate of Agaricus bisporus under modified atmosphere packaging at any instant of time were calculated by a C program based on permeable system. The dependence of respiration rate on gas composition was well described by a Michaelis-Menten type enzyme kinetic equation with uncompetitive CO2 inhibition. The model parameters were estimated by fitting the model to the experimental data by non-linear regression using Excel. The relationship between maximum rate Vm and temperature was well described by the Arrhenius equation. The results suggest that, the respiration rate of Agaricus bisporus as well as Vm increased with temperature, and it has a linear relationship between lnVm and T-1. Results of the study can be applied to the MAP design for Agaricus bisporus.