Respiratory activity of both cultivars decreased as permeability of macro- and laser-perforated films decreased but increased in tomatoes sealed with Film A, which led to anaerobic conditions. In laser perforated films average in-package CO2 and O2 were around 3 kPa and above 15 kPa, respectively, with moderate variations among Films B–E, while in Film A average CO2 and O2 were around 12 kPa and 6 kPa, respectively. In-package gas composition of Film F only slightly differed from air. Air composition and high in-package humidity of laser perforated films controlled water loss and delayed loss of firmness and of titratable acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C, but increased decay of the very susceptible to cracking ‘Dorotea’ tomatoes. The high in-package CO2 of Film A reduced pathogens growth, but decay incidence was lowest in unwrapped tomatoes and packages of Film F. ‘Trebus’ tomatoes were more resistant to decay than ‘Dorotea’ ones. MAP with moderate levels of CO2 (around 3 kPa), O2 not below than 12 kPa and RH not higher than 90% could prolong overall quality and reduce decay of red-ripe cherry tomatoes at 20 °C.
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