Kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica) and Chinese mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa) are popular leafy
vegetables and common market items in Vietnam. Their production and marketing are severely constrained by
rapid wilting and yellowing after harvest. Modified atmosphere packaging and storage trials were conducted to
identify treatments that could improve shelf life. Freshly harvested, defect-free kangkong shoots 25 cm in
length and whole Chinese mustard heads were held in 25 micron-thick low-density polyethylene or
polypropylene film with and without ten 5 mm-diameter perforations per kg produce and with or without 0.1-
0.4% potassium permanganate in sachet as an ethylene scrubber. Produce in the open served as control. Storage
was done at ambient (22-27°C) or in a cold chamber (13°C). As expected, both vegetables deteriorated in
quality more rapidly at ambient than at 13°C. All treatments remarkably reduced weight loss regardless of
storage condition. Ethylene scrubbing decreased ethylene levels inside the plastic bag and reduced leaf
yellowing but were not sufficient to further increase shelf life. The non-perforated low-density polyethylene
was the most promising film for kangkong at ambient, reducing weight loss to 2% from 22% in the open after
three days of storage. At 13°C, both non-perforated low-density polyethylene and polypropylene were equally
effective in reducing weight loss to 1.5% from 35% in the open after nine days of storage. Shelf life was only
one day at ambient and 2-3 days at 13°C in the open due mainly to wilting. With modified atmosphere
packaging, shelf life increased to three days at ambient and 7-9 days at 13°C. For Chinese mustard, low-density
polyethylene was the most promising film both at ambient and 13°C. Film perforation and an ethylene scrubber
were not necessary. Low-density polyethylene increased shelf life twofold at ambient and fourfold at 13°C.