Detannization and conservation quality of cashew apple through dioxide carbon application

• Grant number: 15/15291-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2015
• End date: August 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Science
• Principal Investigator: Ricardo Alfredo Kluge
• Grantee: Laleska Rossi Moda
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The cashew tree is a tropical origin plant of relevant importance for Brazil, due to the cashew nut production and consumption of the fresh product, the cashew apple, which has various nutritional properties such as high contents of vitamin C, phenolic compounds and sugars. However, its commercialization is hampered by the short shelf-life and astringency, result of the tannins. Hence, mechanisms of conservation and removal of astringency of the fruit becomes necessary for the development of the crop. The objective of this work is to evaluate the postharvest and nutritional quality of the cashew apple, submitted to different concentrations and times of exposure to carbon dioxide. The selected cashew apples will be deposited in hermetic boxes of 8,6L, where the CO‚, 100% pure, and atmosferic air coming from the flowboard, will be injected in chosen gases concentrations through a continuous flow. The studied treatments will be: a) concentration of 100% of CO‚, for 12 hours; b) 100% of CO‚, for 24 hours; c) 80% of CO‚, for 48 hours; d) Control, with ambient concentration of CO‚ all the period. All treatment will be at 5°C. After the treatment, the cashews apples will be storage at 5°C and 90% of RH. The evaluations will be performed subsequently the exposure to the CO‚ and on the 4th, 8th and 12th days. The performed analyzes will be: proanthocyanidins content (tannins); poliphenolics in HPLC; anthocyanins; color of epidermis, firmness of the pulp; weight loss; rot incidence; soluble solid content; ascorbic acid content; titratable acidity; respiratory rate and ethylene production; acetaldehyde and ethanol; profile analysis of volatiles compounds; and antioxidant activity. The collected data will be submitted to analysis of variance (F test) and the average will be compared by Tukey's test (p < 0,05), or, when accepted, the multivariate analysis will be done. (AU)