Species from Capsicum genus are used for different purposes and in more recent years as ornamental potted plant. Despite the increased commercial importance, there are only a few studies on the environmental factors affecting the post-production shelf life of these ornamental plants. The presence of ethylene induces various responses on potted peppers, reducing the shelf life of sensitive cultivars. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of ethylene and the inhibitors of ethylene action, 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) and silver thiosulfate (STS) on the shelf life of potted 'Calypso' and 'MG 302' peppers. Cultivar 'MG 302' showed intermediate sensitivity to ethylene action, while the cultivar 'Calypso' showed complete abscission of leaves when exposed to ethylene. In both cultivars, treatment with STS + Ethylene presented symptoms of phytotoxicity in plants, while treatment with 1-MCP + Ethylene was effective in delaying senescence and abscission for the cultivar 'MG 302', while cultivar 'Calypso' showed abscission similar to control plants. Plants treated with STS showed the longest durability when compared to the other treatments, about six days for 'Calypso' and 18 days for 'MG 302'. Nevertheless, plants treated with 1-MCP also exhibited good shelf life, about six days for 'Calypso' and nine days for the 'MG 302'. Although the treatment with STS was more efficient on the plants shelf life, did not completely block the action of ethylene and exhibited some phytotoxicity, while the treatment with 1-MCP had good efficiency without inducing any toxicity.

The breakdown of dormancy and early sprouting is one of the main causes of losses of stored potatoes. Sprouting control becomes important especially when tubers are submitted to long-term storage for further processing by the potato industry. The objective of this work is to evaluate the effect of organic sprout inhibitors, eugenol and menthol essential oils, on the suppression of growth on non-dormant 'Asterix' tubers stored at 8 °C. Administration of eugenol and menthol essential oils reduced the number and the length of sprouts during cold storage up to fifty days. Nevertheless, the essential oils stimulated the break of bud apical dominance, stimulating auxiliary buds growth. The effect of the oils was restricted to inducing necrosis of superficial sprout cells without any apparent effect on the skin periderm structure. Repeated applications of oils are necessary to prolong the inhibitory effects of the essential oils on sprouts growth.

RESUMO -Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar características físicas e químicas em aceroleiras provenientes de seis plantas encontradas no IFSULDEMINAS -Câmpus Muzambinho-MG, para identificar plantas com melhores qualidades genéticas. Foram selecionadas seis plantas de acerolas, e os frutos foram colhidos em quatro épocas. Em cada planta, foi feita uma amostragem com três repetições, por época, sendo cada repetição composta por 10 frutos. Foram realizadas as seguintes análises físicas: massa fresca, coloração, diâmetros longitudinal (DL) e transversal (DT), relação DL/DT, e químicas: teor de sólidos solúveis (SS), acidez titulável (AT), relação SS/AT, pH e teor de ácido ascórbico. As médias dos tratamentos, quando significativas, foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey, a 5% de probabilidade. Os resultados médios de massa por fruto variam de 4,03 a 7,10 g, já as médias do índice de formato do fruto variam de 0,84 a 0,92, constatando-se que o fruto é uma drupa subglobosa. Os diâmetros transversal e longitudinal oscilam, respectivamente, de 16,67 a 23,86 mm e 15,39 a 20,06 mm, e a coloração da casca foi mais vermelha nas acerolas oriundas da planta 1. Os teores de sólidos solúveis variam de 5,48 a 7,90ºBrix e, na relação SS/AT, houve variação de 5,92 a 8,31. O pH variou de 3,54 a 3,76, a acidez total titulável de 0,70 a 1,14 g.100 g-1 e os teores de ácido ascórbico variaram de 1.114,07 a 1.456,22 mg.100 g -1 . Observou-se que, de acordo com as características físicas, a planta 6 apresentou-se mais adequada para uma futura propagação. Em relação às variáveis químicas avaliadas, as acerolas oriundas da planta 1 apresentaram bons teores de ácido ascórbico e boa relação SS/AT, atendendo ao indicado para o suco de acerola. Termos para indexação: Malpighia emarginata D.C., acerola, ácido ascórbico. CHARACTERIZATION AND EVALUATION OF FRUITS OF WEST INDIAN CHERRYABSTRACT -This study aimed to evaluate physical and chemical characteristics in West Indian cherry from six plants found in the IFSULDEMINAS -Campus Muzambinho, MG, to identify plants with the best genetic qualities. It was selected six plants and the fruits were collected in four dates for evaluation. In each plant, sampling was done with three replicates per date, with each replicate consisting of 10 fruits. It was realized the following physical analyzes: fresh mass, coloring, longitudinal and transverse diameter, and the ratio LD/TD, and chemical analyzes: soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), ratio SS/TA, pH and ascorbic acid content. The mean of treatments, when significant, were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. The average results of fruit mass range from 4.03 to 7.10 g in the index means the fruit can vary from 0.84 to 0.92 noting that the fruit is a subglobose drupe. The transverse and longitudinal diameter ranging respectively from 16.67 to 23.86 mm and 15.39 to 20.06 mm and peel color was redder in fruits from Plant 1. The soluble solids ranging from 5.48 to 7.90 °Brix and SS/TA ratio variation was from 5.92 to 8.31. The pH ranged from ...

The increased demand for potato by the Brazilian processing industry requires long term refrigerated storage, but after a few months, natural dormancy ends, and sprouts start to grow. Thus, sprout inhibitors are necessary to reduce the rate of growth and allow further storage. The purpose of research described here was to determine the effects clove and menthol essential oils have on the inhibition of sprout growth in non-dormant ‘Asterix’ tubers. Both eugenol and menthol treatments reduced the rate of sprout growth during storage at 8oC for up to 50 days. Eugenol and menthol essential oils diminished the rate of accumulation of reducing sugar, which are responsible for browning of French fries. Color after frying was within acceptable levels when the tubers were treated with eugenol or menthol essential oils.

Dne of the major problems affecting potatoes quality on stored is the susceptibility to enzymatic browning, which occurs mainly after wounds during the harvest, at postharvest handling and by aging, leading to the development of dark color compounds. Enzymatic browning is associated with the action of polyphenoloxidases (PPD) and peroxidases (PDD), which use phenolic compounds and oxygen as substrates. The products of these enzymes cause undesirable changes of color and flavor of processed potato products. The present study aimed to evaluate some kinetic properties based to optimum pH and reaction temperature, and to determine changes on activity of potato tubers PPD and PDD treated with sprouting suppressors compounds menthol and eugenol. For each treatment, samples were collected in six different periods, before application (day 0) and 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 days after the treatments to determine the influence of sprout inhibitors on the activity of PPD and PDD. Changes in pH and temperature affected drastically the activity of both enzymes. The use of eugenol and menthol as sprouting suppressors decreased enzymatic activity on the treated tubers compared to control with an inverse relationship between enzymes activity and content of phenolic compounds.

Within the genetic variability of the Capsicum genus there are plants with ornamental potential, but awry height required by the market. Paclobutrazol (PBZ), gibberellin retardant and growth inhibitor, is normally used as alternative to reduce plant height. The objective was to evaluate the PBZ (0, 25, 50 and 75 mg L-1) effect on plant height of eight pepper genotypes. Seven accessions [BGH 1032, BGH 1039, BGH 7073 (C. annuum), BGH 4285, BGH 4199, BGH 4355 and BGH 6371 (C. chinense)] of the germplasm bank from Universidade Federal de Viçosa and one access [MG 302 (C. annuum)] from the germplasm bank of the Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais were evaluated. The PBZ application was ineffective in altering plant architecture of BGH 6371. PBZ at 25 mg L-1 resulted in plants with better ornamental characteristics of the accesses BGH 1032 and BGH 1039. Considering the cost-benefit, the indicated dose for BGH 4285, BGH 7073 and MG 302 access is 25 mg L-1 PBZ. The PBZ application in BGH 4199 and BGH 4355 accesses, despite reducing plant height, did not improve the ornamental characteristics, resulting in plants without canopy pattern.

This study evaluated the effects of storage temperature and different packaging on the physicochemical aspects of fresh-cut pineapple cv. 'Perola'. Fruits were selected, washed and sanitized, and then stored for 12 h at 10 ºC. At 12 ºC, the fruits were peeled and cut into 1.5-2-cm thick semicircle-shaped slices. Cut pieces were rinsed, drained and packed either into polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging or on Styrofoam trays wrapped in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film and stored at 4 or 8 ºC at 90% of relative humidity. During storage, they were evaluated for color values (lightness, hue angle and chroma), texture, appearance, weight loss, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids content (SS), SS/TA ratio, pH, vitamin C and soluble sugars. According to the physicochemical results, the fresh-cut pineapple cv. 'Perola' maintained better quality for consumption and sale at 4 ºC, with a fresh product quality up to nine days. Storage on a Styrofoam tray wrapped in PVC film led to greater weight loss, but better appearance, additionally showed good maintenance of the physicochemical parameters of the fruit during the storage period.

The genus Capsicum has varying levels of sensitivity to ethylene. Variability knowledge allows planning post-production methodologies of potted pepper plants and can be used in breeding programs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ethylene sensitivity of three ornamental pepper genotypes of the germplasm bank of Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Pepper plants were exposed to 10 μL L-1 ethylene during 48 hours. The flowers were highly sensitive to exogenous ethylene in all genotypes except Pimenta colorida which was moderately sensitive. Regarding leaf abscission, Pimenta colorida and Pimentão ornamental are classified as highly sensitive to ethylene application. Already the fruits responded with the early appearance of the typical coloration when ripe, except for Pimenta laranja. When fruits fell, the highest rates were observed for green fruits, followed by ripe green and ripe fruits.