Influence of ripenig stage, minimal processing and 1-MCP on the content of lycopene in red guavas

• Grant number: 09/07112-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2009
• End date: July 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Angelo Pedro Jacomino
• Grantee: Angelo Pedro Jacomino
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The minimal processing offers fresh products, with quality and convenience. In case of fruits, allows immediately evaluation of its internal quality. The red guavas offers high levels of vitamin C, fibers and lycopene, a carotenoid pigment with antioxidant action, which is associated with prevent of cancer occur and heart diseases. With all these nutritional importance and a new tendency of the population to buy practical, natural and healthy products, the objective of this project is quantify the lycopene contents in 'Paluma' and 'Pedro Sato' guavas harvested in different ripening stages, as well measure the effects of minimal processing and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) in lycopene contents during the storage. The project will have three parts. The first one will quantify the lycopene contents of guavas harvested in three ripening stages. The second one, the lycopene contents will be also quantified, but in minimally processed guavas, harvested in the same ripening stages of the first part. The last part will evaluate the 1-MCP effect in lycopene contents of minimally processed guavas, harvested in only one ripening stage. Will be realized analyses in the beginning of the experiment to characterize the lot and each three days during nine days of storage. The analyses will be: skin color, pulp color, fresh pulp firmness, soluble solids contents, tritratable acidity, ascorbic acid contents and lycopene contents. The results will be evaluated statistically and submitted to analysis of variance. The means will be compared by Tukey's test at a 5% level. A completely randomized design will be used, as a factorial scheme, with four replicates per treatment. (AU)