Heidi Viilop

Mrs. Heidi Viilop

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 October 2026 in Horticulturae
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AKAngela Koort
Angela Koort
HVHeidi Viilop
Heidi Viilop
LMLeila Mainla
Leila Mainla
MMMariana Maante-Kuljus
Mariana Maante-Kuljus
KKKadri Karp
Kadri Karp
UMUlvi Moor
Ulvi Moor
This study compared polyethylene terephthalate (PET), corrugated cardboard (CB), cardboard with a cellulose lid (CBC), and rice-straw packages with a polylactic acid lid (RPLA) for half-highbush ‘Northblue’ and highbush ‘Draper’ blueberries. Fruits were stored for 7–8 days at 5 ± 1 °C and 40 ± 2% relative humidity to represent short local distribution conditions in Estonia. Packaging treatments influenced postharvest quality, and responses differed between the two cultivars. In ‘Northblue’, PET maintained lower weight loss (2.4%) and higher firmness (0.51 N) than CB (6.8% and 0.35 N), while CBC and RPLA showed intermediate weight loss and firmness. In ‘Draper’, CB resulted in the highest weight loss (10.6%) and a significant decline in total anthocyanin content from 90 to 49 mg 100 g−1 FW, whereas RPLA showed the highest total phenolic content (207 vs. 144 mg 100 g−1 FW in CB) and organic acid content (0.88 g 100 mL−1). RPLA also maintained the highest organic acid content in ‘Northblue’ (0.65 g 100 mL−1). RPLA showed potential for short-term storage under the low-RH conditions tested, although its performance differed between the two cultivars.