The growing concern about food safety makes necessary to search for alternative methods of food conservation. The objective of this work was to evaluate postharvest conservation of kale leaf using aqueous vegetal extracts. The experimental design was completely randomized, with the concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of Rosmarinus officinalis, Allium sativum, Capsicum baccatum, Cymbopogon citratus and the control treatment using deionized water. The extracts were sprayed on kale leaves with manual spray over the entire adaxial and abaxial epidermis. The evaluated parameters were chlorophyll a and b, weight loss, total phenolics compounds, antioxidant activity and a visual analysis. The leaves remained at ambient temperature for six days. The results indicate that there was no significant conservation in the content of chlorophyll a, b and visual analysis when compared to the control, and the extracts did not have influence in the weight loss. There was an increase of total phenolic content and antioxidant activity with rosemary, lemongrass and pepper extracts, the garlic extract reduced the concentration of these bioactive compounds when compared to the control. In general, the application of the vegetal extracts did not influence in the postharvest conservation of kale leaves.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the application of 1-MCP on physicochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of 'Gala' apples mutants, harvested at two different times and maintained in refrigerated atmosphere (0 °C) during 90 days. 'Mondial Gala', 'Imperial Gala' and 'Galaxy' were obtained from commercial orchards. After harvesting, half of the fruits were treated with 1-MCP, and control fruits were maintained in the same condition, but without the treatment. Skin color, pulp firmness, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, total phenolic compounds, anthocyanin and antioxidant activity were evaluated in peel and pulp. The results show that using 1-MCP, pulp firmness was higher than the control. Titratable acidity analysis showed statistical differences for apple clones, harvest point and treatment with 1-MCP. Total soluble solids content was not influenced by the treatments. Epidermis color was statistically influenced by clone (a*, L* and C*), and by harvest point (L*), but 1-MCP did not affect this parameter. The content of total polyphenols and antioxidant activity was higher in the peel when compared to the pulp. 1-MCP proved to be effective in maintaining postharvest quality in all clones and at two harvest points tested.

No abstract