Date package and storage conditions play a key role in controlling Plodia interpunctella and Oryzaephilus surinamensis and preserving date quality

Piarom is considered as one of the most important semi-dried date fruits in Iran which has been highly affected by stored pests. The current study was aimed to evaluate the effects of the modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and vacuum packaging (VAP) methods on storage pests control and date quality. To do so, Piarom variety were packaged in two package systems, including passive modified atmosphere and vacuum package system. The control samples were kept unpackaged. The packages were kept under two different storage conditions; at 4 °C and 55 ± 10% RH, and 25-27 °C and 70 ± 5% RH for 30, 60, 90 and 150 days. The experiment was carried out based on a completely randomized design arranged in factorial with four replicates. The results showed that Indian meal moth Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)and sawtoothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) are the most important storage pests with 87.5 and 12.5% contamination, respectively. The passive MAP and VAP reduced the pests infestation rate significantly compared to control. Also, they could better preserve pH (5.88 and 5.85 for MAP and VAP, respectively) than the control (5.78). Changes in water activity in MAP and VAP were almost the same at the two storage conditions i.e., ambient and at 4 °C and was significantly different from the control. The maximum water activity change was observed in control treatment.