Controlled atmosphere on the conservation of strawberry

Author(s)

Luis Carlos Cunha Júnior

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2011-04-01

Examining board members

João Alexio Scarpare Filho; Jose Fernando Durigan; Ricardo Alfredo Kluge; Ben hur Mattiuz; Marise Cagnin Martins Parisi

• Advisor: João Alexio Scarpare Filho

Abstract

The aim of this work were to evaluate the isolates effects of different concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2) and nitrous oxide (N2O); and also the combinations of the best results for the conservation of strawberries \'Oso Grande\'. The fruit have been selected, cooled and stored to 10 °C in air tight chambers with continuous flow of 150 ml min-1. The fruits were evaluated every two days to become unfit for consumption. The higher concentrations of CO2 (0,03 %; 10 %; 20 %, 40 % and 80 %) associated with 20 % O2 in the atmosphere of storage, it smaller was the incidence of diseases. The strawberries stored with 80 % of CO2 were considered unsuitable for the consumption on the present high levels of acetaldehyde (4,9 mg 100 g-1) and the ethanol (105,3 mg 100 g-1). Already concentrations of 20 % and 40% of CO2 were conserved the fruit for up to 8 days, with maintenance of the color and the commercial characteristics. The concentrations of O2 (1 %; 3 %; 20 %; 60 %; and 90 %) showed that strawberry respiratory activity was lower in atmospheres with 1 % and 3 % of O2. The treatment with 90 % O2 provided the lower incidence of rotting (2,8 %). The strawberries stored with 60 and 90 % O2 maintained their commercial characteristics for 10 days. In the test with different concentrations of N2O (0 %; 10 %; 30 %; 60 %; and 80 %) associated with 20 % O2, observed that the fruit with this gas obtained the best results of appearance, and the respiratory rate of the fruit reduced in 36,3 % after 24 hours of storage, and maintained stable until the end of the period. The concentrations of 60 % and 80 % of N2O showed appropriate for the conservation of strawberries for presented a lesser occurrence of diseases and of respiratory rate, and therefore maintaining the commercial characteristics. In this experiment were evaluated again the atmospheres with 0,03 % CO2 + 20 % O2; 80 % N2O + 20 % O2 and 90 % O2; in addition to evaluating the combinations of 60 % O2 + 40 % CO2 and 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O. The smallest incidences rotting and best notes of appearance were in the fruit stored with 80 % N2O + 20 % O2 and 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O. The strawberries under atmosphere with 60 % O2 + 40 % CO2 were considered unsuitable for consumption to the showed high levels of acetaldehyde (54,8 mg 100 g-1) and of ethanol (42,4 mg 100 g-1). The strawberries \'Oso Grande\' at 10 ºC, under controlled atmosphere with 80 % N2O + 20 % O2; 90% O2 or 20 % O2 + 20 % CO2 + 60 % N2O maintained their color, reduced the occurrence of diseases and maintained the commercial quality for 14 days. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/04553-6 - CONTROLL OF SENESCENCE OF STRAWBERRY WITH CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE AND PACKAGE
• Grantee: Luis Carlos Cunha Junior
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate