Vanderlei Both

Respiratory quotient: innovative method for monitoring ‘Royal Gala’ apple storage in a dynamic controlled atmosphere

Apples (Malus domestica, Borkh.) which are not stored at low temperature or in a properly controlled atmosphere (CA) may have a high metabolic rate during the postharvest stage resulting in losses in quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of ‘Royal Gala’ apple fruit stored in accordance with a new method of dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA).The respiratory quotient (RQ) was monitored at two temperatures which were then compared using a commercially available technology based on chlorophyll fluorescence DCA (DCA-CF) and static CA. Ethylene production and respiration rates were lower in apples stored in DCA than in CA, as a result of lower 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase activity, especially in apples stored in DCA-RQ2. Flesh firmness of apples stored in DCA did not differ from those stored in CA. Apples stored at 1 °C had less flesh breakdown occurrence and a high percentage of healthy fruit. ‘Royal Gala’ stored at DCA-RQ2 had less flesh breakdown than apples stored in CA; however, the apples stored in DCA-CF did not differ from those stored in DCA-RQ2 and CA. Apples stored at the highest RQ value (6 and 4), especially at 0.5 °C, had low O2 injury occurrence after storage. However the increase in temperature to 1.0 °C, reduced the occurrence of this disorder. Therefore, storage in DCA-RQ2 at 1 °C or DCA-CF at 0.5 °C are the recommendations of preference for ensuring maintenance of quality in ‘Royal Gala’ apples after eight months of storage.

Tamanho de amostra para a estimação da média de caracteres de maçã

The aim of this research was to determine the sample size (number of fruits) needed to estimate the average of Royal Gala and Fuji apples characters, evaluated at harvest and postharvest, after a period in cold storage. In Royal Gala and Fuji apples were measured eight characters at harvest and 11 after could refrigeration. For each character in each cultivar, measured at harvest and after cold storage, was calculated the mean, variance, coefficient of variation, skewness, kurtosis and checked the normality and, then, was calculated the sample size. Larger sample sizes are needed to estimate the average of: ethylene production, ratio, respiration, weight and acidity. Smaller sample sizes are needed for the measurement of longitudinal diameter, pulp firmness, total soluble solids, transversal diameters (major and minor) and juice content. The sample size required to measure the characters of Royal Gala apples is lower than that required for Fuji apples. In Royal Gala and Fuji apples, 88 and 190 fruits, respectively, are sufficient for the measurement of characters, at harvest and after cold storage, with estimation error of 5% of the average.

Tamanho de amostra para a estimação da média de caracteres de pêssego na colheita e após o armazenamento refrigerado

The aim of this research was to determine the sample size needed to evaluate peach fruit characters at harvest and after cold storage. Fruits were collected from a commercial orchard. In the laboratory, split randomly, two samples of 120 fruits each, one sample assessed at harvest and one stored at -0.5°C for 30 days, and then for five additional days at 20°C. Eleven characters were measured on each fruit at harvest and twelve after cold storage, being the central tendency measures and dispersion calculated and normality checked. After, it was compared the average and the homogeneity of variance at harvest and after cold storage and calculated the sample size for each character. In peach, 169 fruits are needed to estimate the pulp firmness, 34 fruits to estimate the weight, acidity and ratio, 11 fruits to assess fruit juiciness and six fruits to estimate the others characters at harvest and after cold storage, with an estimation error of 5% on average.

Estresse inicial por baixo oxigênio seguido do armazenamento em atmosfera controlada de maçãs 'Royal Gala'

The aim of this work was to evaluate the application of initial low oxygen stress and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on quality maintenance of Royal Gala apples, when stored in a controlled atmosphere (CA). In order to do this, a lot of 50 % of the fruit was treated with 1-MCP (625 ppb) and one half of these, together with half of the fruit which did not receive the application of 1-MCP, were subjected to low oxygen stress (0.3 kPa for seven days) before being stored for seven months at 0.5 °C under the following CA conditions: 1.2 kPa O 2 + 2.0 kPa CO 2 ; 1.0 kPa O 2 + 2.0 kPa CO 2 ; 0.8 kPa O 2 + 1.0 kPa CO 2 ; 0.6 kPa O 2 + 1.0 kPa CO 2 e 0.5 kPa O 2 + 1.0 kPa CO 2 . After storage, and following a further seven days at 20 °C, analyses of fruit quality were carried out. The results show that initial low oxygen stress is not effective in maintaining quality, beyond increasing the occurrence of physiological disorders and decay. There was no big difference in the efficiency of the CA conditions used in this study on the conservation of fruit quality. The application of 1-MCP did not improve quality maintenance in fruit stored under ultralow oxygen, as seen at the lowest partial pressures (<1.0 kPa) used in this work.

Atmosfera controlada para o armazenamento de goiaba cultivar ‘Paluma’

Guava is a highly perishable fruit. Controlled atmosphere (CA) storage techniques could extend its shelf life while maintaining the quality of fruit. The aim of this work was to determine the best CA conditions for the storage of ‘Paluma’ guava. The experiment consisted in a randomized block design with the follow treatments: [1] 20.9 kPa O 2 + 0.03 kPa CO 2 (CS - control); [2] 1.0 kPa O 2 + 2.0 kPa CO 2 ; [3] 2.0 kPa O 2 + 2.0 kPa CO 2 ; [4] 3.0 kPa O 2 + 2.0 kPa CO 2 ; and [5] 3.0 kPa O 2 + 4.0 kPa CO 2 . Fruit were stored at 8°C (±0.2) at a relative humidity of 95% (±2.0). After 28 days of storage the fruits were evaluated for their physicochemical characteristics. The best CA storage conditions for ‘Paluma’ guava is 1 and 2 kPa O 2 combined with 2 kPa CO 2 . These conditions reduced the degradation of the peel green color , loss of firmness and acidity, and keeps the flesh color more ef fectively, but the high occurrence of decay during self-life is the limiting factor of the storage period.

Avaliação de genótipos de morangueiro quanto à qualidade e potencial de armazenamento

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of strawberry cultivars and clones, and their potential for storage under refrigeration. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four replicates of approximately 150 g each. The treatments consisted in the evaluation of three cultivars and four clones, namely: LBH 15.1 Araza, SGH 140.3 Guenoa, LBF 236.3 Yvapita, LBG 121.4, LBK 16.1, LBK 35.1 and LBK 28.1. Evaluations were made at harvest and after ten days of storage at -0.5oC, plus two days at 20oC. The parameters evaluated were firmness, acidity, soluble solids, TSS/ TTA ratio, ascorbic acid, presence of rotting and weight loss. In terms of quality, cv. Guenoa presented low acidity and high TSS e ascorbic acid, high TSS/TTA ratio and also showed better conservation, presenting low incidence of decay during storage. The cultivar LBF 236.3 Yvapita and the clone LBK 28.1 showed the lowest vitamin C content and TSS/TTA ratio, which compromises its quality. The quick reduction of firmness and increased susceptibility to decay presented by LBF236.3 Yvapita and LBK 28.1 show a low potential for conservation under refrigeration. Cultivars and clones that had higher quality at harvest, also showed better post-harvest conservation.

Produtividade e qualidade de figos Roxo de Valinhos submetidos à fertirrigação e ao armazenamento refrigerado

Effect of fertigation and cold storage on yield and quality of ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ figs The low productivity of figs in Brazil is usually associated with water and nutrition deficiency. The aim of this work was evaluate the effect of fertigation with doses of nitrogen and potassium on yield and quality of the ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ figs during cold storage. The field experiment was conducted during two years, and in the last year, the fruits were stored at 0.5° C for fifteen days. The treatments were a combination of doses of of nitrogen (150, 250, 350 and 450 kg ha -1 ) and potassium (150, 250 and 350 kg ha -1 ) applied by fertigation. The results showed that doses up to 250 kg ha 1 of N and K in fertigation increased the yield of ‘Roxo de Valinhos’ figs, and these doses increased the yield among the treatments. Fertigation increased yield of green figs by by 96.7% and ripe figs by 49% compared with the control. The rates of N and K and the application form did not affect the fruit quality during cold storage.

Manejo do etileno e sua relação com a maturação de maçãs 'Gala' armazenadas em atmosfera controlada

This research aimed to evaluate the quality of Gala apples submitted to different ways of ethylene handling, through inhibition of synthesis, inhibition of action and ethylene absorption in storage room, associated with two temperatures. The treatments originated from the combination between two temperatures (0.5 °C e -0.5 °C) and application of aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG), 1- methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and ethylene absorption. All treatments were stored in controlled atmosphere with 1.2 kPa O2 + 2.5 kPa CO2. Ripening and quality evaluations were carried out after eight months of storage more seven days at 20 °C. Preharvest AVG application maintained fruit skin greener at the opening of storage rooms. After seven days at 20°C, the treatment with AVG resulted in greener skin, with lesser decay incidence, higher flesh firmness and less senescent breakdown incidence. The lower ethylene production of AVG-treated apples resulted in lower respiration and highest titratable acidity levels. The temperature of 0.5 °C maintained higher of the titratable acidity and reduced senescent breakdown incidence when compared with the temperature of -0.5 oC. The ethylene absorption and 1-MCP application were also efficient in the control of the senescent breakdown and loss of firmness, however less effective than AVG treatment.

Aplicação de 1-metilciclopropeno, estresse inicial com baixo oxigênio e armazenamento em ultrabaixo oxigênio na qualidade de maçã Fuji

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of 1-MCP application in combination with initial low oxygen stress and storage in controlled atmosphere with ultra-low oxygen on Fuji apple quality preservation. The evaluated treatments consisted of 1-MCP application (with or without 1000nL L-1) combined with five levels of the factor storage condition (without initial stress + 0.6kPa O2, 1 stress + 0.6kPa O2, 1 stress + 0.8kPa O2, 2 stresses + 0.6kPa O2 and without initial stress + 1.0kPa O2). Initial low oxygen stress was applied by 14 days at 0.2kPa O2. The fruits were stored in these conditions for eight months at -0.5±0.2°C and relative humidity of 96±1%, followed by seven days at 20±1°C. In all treatments, the CO2 was kept below 0.5kPa. The storage without initial low oxygen stress associated with 1.0kPa or 0.6kPa O2 maintained the pulp firmer and with the higher titratable acidity, moreover provided a lower incidence of decay after storage during eight months and shelf life at 20°C. The 1-MCP provided lower activity of ACC oxidase enzyme, however, did not reduces ethylene production and failed to delay the loss of firmness and the control decay. Initial stress of 14 days with 0.2kPa O2 reduced the conservation of Fuji apples.

Aminoethoxyvinylglycine: isolated and combined with other growth regulators on quality of ‘Brookfield’ apples after storage

Growth regulators are used in the production of apples worldwide, especially to extend the harvest period and maintain postharvest quality. This study aimed to investigate the effects of applying aminoethoxyvinylglycine (AVG) in isolation as well as in combination with other growth regulators and postharvest techniques on the harvest quality and storage potential of ‘Brookfield’ apples (Malus domestica), a ‘Gala’ strain. Fruit receiving AVG only had the highest starch content and the highest titratable acidity at harvest. After 8 months of storage, the AVG + 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) and AVG + ABS (ethylene absorption) conserved higher flesh firmness than to all the other treatments. Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) application induced ACC oxidase enzyme activity at harvest, but not after storage. AVG application, with or without the aid of another technique, did not decrease the red skin color of ‘Brookfield’ apples. Low mealiness and a high healthy fruit percentage was obtained when the fruits were submitted to pre-harvest AVG application combined with NAA, 1-MCP and ABS. Internal carbon dioxide had an inverse correlation with the quantity of healthy fruit and was directly correlated with mealiness.