Chemical and physical quality of eggplant fruits submitted to different postharvest treatments

O presente trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade química e física de berinjelas submetidas a diferentes tratamentos pós-colheita. Berinjelas ( L.), cultivar Ciça, foram colhidas em campos de produção comercial em Brasília-DF e submetidas aos seguintes tratamentos: atmosfera modificada; CaCl (2%) + atmosfera modificada; aplicação de 1-MCP (500nL.L ); aplicação de 1-MCP (500nL.L ) + CaCl (2%); e controle. Após os tratamentos, os frutos foram armazenados por 10 dias (12±1°C/UR 85 - 90%) e avaliados a cada dois dias para perda de massa, firmeza, coloração externa e teor de sólidos solúveis totais (°Brix). Observou-se que ao final do experimento os frutos do tratamento controle apresentavam perda de massa ao redor de 14%. No décimo dia de armazenamento os frutos tratados com cloreto de cálcio associado à atmosfera modificada e aqueles armazenados sob atmosfera modificada apresentavam firmeza 2,5 vezes maior do que o tratamento controle. Ao final do experimento os frutos armazenados sob atmosfera modificada possuíam brilho, que era cerca de 20% maior do que o dos frutos do tratamento controle. Berinjelas do tratamento controle possuíam Brix cerca de 20% maior do que dos frutos armazenados sob atmosfera modificada ao final do experimento. ______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe present work was carried out aiming to evaluate chemical and physical characteristics of eggplant fruits submitted to different postharvest treatments. Eggplant fruits ( L.) were harvested in commercial fields in Brasilia, DF. After harvesting the, fruits were graded for size and diameter and treated as follows: modified atmosphere; CaCl (2%) dipping + modified atmosphere; 1-MCP (500nL.L ); 1-MCP (500nL.L ) + CaCl (2%) dipping; and control. Fruits were then stored for 10 days at 12±1°C, relative humidity ranging from 85 to 90%, and analyzed every two days for mass loss, firmness, external color (brightness) and total soluble solids content. It was observed that mass loss increased during storage. At the end of the storage period control fruits had a mass loss of 14%, and fruits treated with calcium chloride, with or without the association of modified atmosphere, were 2.5 times firmer than control fruits. For brightness, fruits stored under modified atmosphere had L* values that were 20% higher than control fruits at the tenth day of storage. When total soluble solids were evaluated, it was verified that, at the end of the storage period, control fruits had 20% more soluble solids than fruits stored under modified atmosphere