Controlled atmosphere for conservation of uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis) under simultaneous alteration of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations

• Grant number: 22/05027-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: March 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Crop Science
• Principal Investigator: Angelo Pedro Jacomino
• Grantee: Julio César Zacarias Filho
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/12606-3 - Fruits of the Atlantic Forest potentially functional potential: characterization, plant propagation and postharvest conservation, AP.TEM

Abstract

Controlled atmosphere (CA) can be used as a tool for conservation and characterization in postharvest physiology. In CA the changes in the ratio between oxygen and carbon dioxide reduce the respiration rate and the enzymatic activity of the fruit, extending its shelf life. The uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis) is a fruit of intense flavor and aroma, however, it has high perishability - which hinders its commercialization and consumption in natura. This study proposes the use of CA for postharvest conservation of uvaia and evaluation of possible changes in its quality in fruits under simultaneously altered O2 and CO2 atmospheres. For this, promising treatments will be selected from studies previously performed and in progress. In these studies the proposed atmospheres were 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 21% O2 and 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15% CO2. The uvaias will be harvested, transported, selected for the absence of defects, pre-cooled and stored in airtight mini-chambers. The mini-chambers containing the fruit will be arranged on racks inside the cooling chamber. Each mini-chamber will be connected to a continuous flow gas line containing the gas mixtures to be studied. The mixtures will be produced in an equipment called "flowboard" from compressed air, O2, CO2 and N2 humidified in a specific device. Besides measuring the functioning of the flowboard, the concentrations of O2 and CO2 will be analyzed daily, in all the mini-chambers, using a Dansensor gas analyzer, model Checkmate 9001. The fruits will be stored for up to 12 days and, evaluated at the 6th and 12th day of storage for fruit mass, coloration, soluble solids, titratable soluble solids, titratable acidity, besides being quantified daily the levels of acetaldehyde and ethanol. The experimental design will be entirely randomized, in a factorial scheme, being the factors composed by the combinations between the concentrations of O2 and CO2, with three three repetitions, each consisting of a mini-chamber, containing 10 to 15 fruits, each day of analysis. The results will be submitted to variance analysis and the means will be compared using by Tukey's test (5%). Non-parametric variables will be analyzed by the Kruskal- Wallis test (5%). (AU)