and those obtained from preliminary study on the
respiratory behaviour of mushroom were taken into consideration
while designing this experiment. In order to avoid anoxia inside
the package micro-perforations were made (8 holes with
150 micron size). Furthermore, the gas composition inside each
package was measured at the end of day 6 of storage using gas
analyser (Checkmate 3, PBI Dansensor, Ringstead, Denmark) O2
and CO2 concentrations were found to be 11.9 kPa and CO2 11.2 kPa,
respectively. Gas samples composition was not monitored
overtime to avoid alternating environmental or storage tempera-
ture around the package trays. All the samples were stored at 7 C
and 85% RH for 6 days. These storage conditions were selected in
order to avoid too fast or too slow response on RH regulation, water
absorption and condensation in humidity-regulating trays. The
weight of mushrooms was recorded before covering the trays with
the lidding
film and also at the end of storage period. The
headspace relative humidity was monitored over time using data
logger (ALMEMO 2490, Ahlborn, Holzkirchen, Germany). The
water vapour absorption of the trays was gravimetrically deter-
mined by measuring increase in weight of the tray at the end of
storage period. The amount of water transmitted over the lidding
film was gravimetrically measured by weighing the package at the
start and at the end of storage period. The amount of condensation