Minimally processed 'Pera' Orange (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck): effect of calcium chloride and sodium alginate film on physiology and conservation

Author(s)

Vanessa Daniel Groppo

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2007-11-08

Examining board members

Marta Helena Fillet Spoto; Érika Maria Roel Gutierrez; Ricardo Alfredo Kluge

• Advisor: Marta Helena Fillet Spoto

Abstract

Changes in the profile of the consumer interested in healthier nutrition, associated with the practicality and convenience, have led to a new branch of food technology: minimal processing. In citrus, this processing will contribute to increased consumption of the fruit in natura, enabling the product to have added value and giving the consumer a new option. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a calcium chloride solution and a sodium alginate film on the physiology and conservation of minimally processed 'Pera' oranges. The quality of minimally processed orange submitted to treatments with 1% calcium chloride and 1% sodium alginate and the control (without treatment application) was monitored by physiologic, physical-chemical, microbiologic and sensorial analyses every three days, during storage at 5°C for a period of 12 days. The respiratory activity of the 'Pera' orange was influenced by the treatments, with the outstanding treatment being sodium alginate (1%), which was shown to be efficient for minimizing respiratory activity, as well as presenting lower psychotropic bacteria counts and lower loss of mass throughout the storage period. However, the quality of the samples submitted to this treatment was prejudiced with regard to the ascorbic acid, sugar and soluble solid contents, as well as firmness. At the end of the storage period, the treatment with calcium chloride (1%) was shown to be more efficient for maintaining the initial characteristics of the fruit, preserving the ascorbic acid content, titrable acidity, 'ratio', sugars and firmness, evidenced by less solubilization of pectins. Microbiological analysis detected insignificant total values for psychotropic bacteria, molds, yeasts and coliforms for all treatments, showing that the care taken with hygienic conditions led to obtainment of a product with a microbiologic standard in accordance with the food legislation, presenting absence of Salmonella and coliforms at 45°C. Sensorially, the minimally processed orange treated with calcium chloride (1%) and the control were shown to be in condition to be consumed for nine days of storage. When comparing the different parameters pointed out by the tasters, it could be observed that sodium alginate (1%) was outstanding as the best treatment for maintaining the sensorial quality of the minimally processed 'Pera' orange. (AU)