2.4.3. Comparison among AP sachets
Bb conidial samples were stored in 125-mL glass jars over the desiccant calcium sulphate for 2 d at 25 _C. Conidial aw just before packaging was 0.019 ฑ 0.0005. Alternatively, conidia were stored over a saturated NaCl solution for 2 d at 25 _C, which resulted in 0.738 ฑ 0.0007 aw prior to packaging. Samples were then transferred to foil pouches (10 _ 12 cm) containing one of the following AP sachets: RP-3A O2/H2O absorber, Ageless_ ZPT 1000 O2 absorber (Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Co., Japan), OxyFree™ 504A O2/CO2 absorber (Tianhua Tech, China), OxyFree™ 504E O2 absorber/CO2 generator (Tianhua Tech, China), or drierite H2O absorber
(56.7 g). As a control, foil pouches without any AP sachet were employed. Pouches were incubated at 50 _C without a preincubation equilibration period, and conidial aw was quantified and germination counts were performed after 45 d. Each treatment (sachet type vs. initial aw) was replicated four times.