Dados do Trabalho

Título

APPLICATION OF 1-BUTANOL TO 'MAXI GALA' APPLES: EFFECT ON FIRMNESS DURING SHELF LIFE

Introdução

Apple plays an important role in the world economy, and Brazil is an important producer of this fruit, especially in the southern region. The harvest occurs from January to May, and year-round availability is possible due to prolonged storage in cold rooms using methods such as Controlled Atmosphere. However, as the interval between harvest and consumption increases, significant quality losses can occur, related to a reduction in pulp firmness, an essential attribute for consumer acceptance. The use of 1-butanol alcohol, naturally present in apples, can be considered a promising option for preserving quality and influencing fruit metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of applying 1-butanol vapor on the firmness of 'Maxi Gala' apples during their shelf life after harvest and after long-term storage in a dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA).

Material e Métodos

Apples were stored in 24 L containers and subjected to treatments with 1-butanol (80 and 160 mg L-1), except the control group, which remained hermetically sealed for 24 h at 20 ± 2 °C. When opened, the fruit was removed and kept in ambient air for 14 days at 20 ± 2 °C and a relative humidity of 90 ± 2%. Pulp firmness analysis was performed using a penetrometer (FT-327, Effegi, Milan, Italy) on days 0, 7 and 14 of shelf life, being expressed in Newton (N). After 7.5 months of storage in DCA, the same procedures were repeated.

Resultados e Discussão

The firmness of the apples was unaffected in the initial time after the application of 1-butanol. However, at 7 and 14 days, the firmness was maintained both in the post-harvest period and after 7.5 months of storage in DCA compared to the control group. Furthermore, at 14 days of shelf life after storage in DCA, the highest 1-butanol concentration (160 mg L-1) maintained a firmness of 74.4 N, significantly higher than the control group (53.70 N) and the 80 mg L-1 treatment (63.0 N).

Conclusão

Therefore, applications of 1-butanol, regardless of the dose, showed efficient maintenance of the firmness of 'Maxi Gala' apples for up to 14 days of shelf life, both post-harvest and after storage in DCA.