자외선 LED를 장착한 포장용기시스템을 제작하였으며, 노트북 컴퓨터와 연결하여 작동 제어가 가능하고, 조사 위치에 따라 강도 조절이 가능하도록 하였다. 자외선 LED의 강도는 5 cm에 비해 2 cm에서 3~4배 정도 높았으며, 동일한 조사 위치에서 365 nm에서가 405 nm보다 약 10배정도의 높은 강도를 보였다. 밀폐용기 시스템 내 방울토마토의 호흡은 $20^{circ}C$에 비해 $10^{circ}C$에서 호흡 감소 효과가 나타났다. 파장간의 차이는 미미하나 $10^{circ}C$에서 365 nm가 405 nm에 비해서 작은 차이지만 호흡감소효과가 우수하게 나타났다. $10^{circ}C$에서 자외선 LED에 의한 호흡감소효과는 5∼10%의 범위에 있었다. 에틸렌 생산에서는 조사 거리 5 cm와 $20^{circ}C$에서 에틸렌 생산 속도가 분명히 낮아지는 경향이다. 방울토마토에서 자외선LED 조사는 호흡과 용기내 에틸렌 축적을 억제할 수 있는 가능성을 보였으나, 온도조건 및 조사 위치에 따라 그 효과는 달랐다. 자외선 LED 조사에 따른 화학적 물리적 품질변화에는 부정적 영향은 없는 것으로 보였다.
UV light irradiation is known to give beneficial effects on fresh produce preservation. A container system equipped with UV-LED was fabricated for storing cherry tomatoes under computer-controlled conditions of intermittent on-off cycles (1 hour on/1 hour off). Wavelength (365 and 405 nm) and physical location of the LED (2 and 5 cm above fruit) were studied as variables affecting the respiration, ethylene production and quality preservation of the fruits at 10 and $20^{circ}C$. 365 nm wavelength gave much higher radiation intensity than 405 nm, and intensity on surface decreased in inverse proportion to square of distance from LED. When compared to non-irradiated control, UV-LED irradiation decreased the respiration by 5-10% at $10^{circ}C$ while there was no obvious effect at $20^{circ}C$. Ethylene production was reduced when the fruits were placed at 5 cm distance, while there was no significant difference from control at 2 cm location. The reduction of ethylene production at 5 cm was more pronounced at $20^{circ}C$. UV-LED irradiation was shown to have delayed increase or lower concentration in carotenoids compared to control treatment. Any negative effect of UV-LED irradiation on ascorbic acid content and firmness was not observed.
