A shelf life prediction model of Actinidia arguta ‘Chang Jiang No.1’ based on postharvest quality evaluation combined with fuzzy mathematics

Actinidia arguta has good taste and nutritional value. It is a climacteric fruit that is not durable during storage and has a short shelf life. To investigate the effects of storage and transportation on the quality of the early maturing variety Chang Jiang No. 1 (CJ No. 1), shelf life models were developed applicable at different temperatures. Fuzzy mathematics was used to evaluate the sensory senses of different storage stages at 2, 5, 15 and 25 °C, and the storage end-time was determined to be 35, 25, 15 and 10 days, respectively. All indices followed zero-order reaction kinetics (ΣR₀² > ΣR₁²) and kinetic parameters k, A and E_a were calculated. Combined with the Arrhenius equation, a kinetic model was established based on key indices. The mean relative errors (MRE) of the key indices and shelf-life_All (SL_All) were less than 10% when comparing predicted and measured values. The weight of each index was determined using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and a consistency test was conducted. Samples at 20 °C were selected to verify the model. The shelf life of CJ No.1 from 2 to 25 °C can be predicted according to the weighted model. The results of this study can help distributors and consumers determine the best time to eat A. arguta and the appropriate storage time. The ideas and methods of this study can also be promoted and applied to other fruit and vegetables to achieve a wider temperature range and a method of prediction of their shelf lives.