Uso de solução conservadora e de películas comestíveis em maçãs da Cultivar Royal Gala minimamente processadas: efeito na fisiologia e na conservação / Use of conservative solution and edible coating in minimally processed royal gala cultivar apple: effect in physiology and in the conservation

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

One of the current proposals to increase the shelf life of the minimally processed (MP) fruits is the investigation of a material that is adherent to the cut surface of the fruit in order to minimize physiological, physico-chemical and microbial deteriorations. The goal of the study is to evaluate the effect of preservative solution and edible coatings in the conservation of the MP apples of Royal Gala cultivar during the refrigerated storage. The treatments are control, the preservative solution (1% of ascorbic acid; 0.5% of citric acid; 0.7% of NaCl; 0.25% of CaCl2) and the filmogenic solution associated with the preservative one. It was tested the dextrin (5.5%), cassava starch (3%) and sodium alginate (2%) with CaCl2 (0.6%). The quality of the MP apples was monitored by physiological, physical, physico-chemical, microbiological and sensorial analysis until the 13th day of storage. The preservative solution decreased the respiratory rate and the ethylene production compared to the control and, promoted a lighter pulp. The firmness of these apples increased with the time of storage. The treatment with coatings showed an average decrease of 38% in the respiratory rate and more than 50% in ethylene production compared to the control, being the alginate based the most efficient. The alginate coating, seen from a scanning electron microscope, detaches from the others (dextrin and cassava starch) because of its homogeneities and absence of pores, fact that contributed to its efficiency in controlling the respiratory rate and ethylene production. The MP apples with alginate coating presented a better retention of moisture in the beginning of storage, however, there was significant loss of moisture content with the storage time. The higher soluble solids concentrations were verified in the apples of control, with conservative solution and with alginate. Apples with alginate presented less acidity and a darker coloration among the treatments because of the pH and the coloration of the filmogenic solution itself. In the apples in control, the firmness of the tissue decreased during storage and in the other treatments, the tendency was the opposite. The cover of dextrin and cassava starch tended to likely influence the physical and physico-chemical characteristics of the apples, showing intermediated values compared to preservative solution and alginate treatments. In the whole fruit (before the processing), it was detected absence of Salmonella. As well as in the MP apples treated with or without coatings, it was detected no total and fecal coliforms during storage. In the treatment that used only the preservative solution, the MP apples presented grades very close to natural (apples just cutted) by the quantitative descriptive sensorial analyses, thus having the best acceptation related to the appearance, smell, taste and texture. The treatments with coatings presented a good acceptation from the tasters, except the MP apples with alginate that appear a little strange due the coating bright. The product was classified as artificial in appearance and deteriorated-fruit in taste.

ASSUNTO(S)

microbiology of food apple processamento de alimentos storage of food fisiologia pós-colheita conservation of food maça physiology postharvest microbiologia de alimentos armazenagem de alimentos conservação de alimentos processing of food

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