DIFFERENT PACKAGES IN THE POST-HARVEST QUALITY OF STRAWBERRY (cv. Camarosa)

Abstract

The method and temperature of storage of a product are the basic agents that make it possible to prolong the post-harvest life of strawberries. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the use of different packages with the passive modified atmosphere in the post-harvest quality of strawberry (cv. Camarosa). The strawberries were harvested and subsequently transported to the Laboratory of Drying and Post-harvest Storage of Agricultural Products, where they were stored in BOD, at 0ºC, and 90±5% relative air humidity. A completely randomized design was used, in a 3 x 5 factorial scheme (three packages: expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging + polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film at 0 °C; polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packaging at 0 °C; and without packaging at 0 °C (control) x five analysis: at 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days of storage), with four replications per day for each treatment. Averages were compared by Tukey test at 5% probability. The variables, fresh mass loss, pulp firmness, pH, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA) and SS/TA ratio were analyzed. The tested packages had better results when compared to the control treatment. The use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) packages at 0ºC had a less fresh mass loss during storage days, lower acidity reduction, and no significant decrease in pulp firmness.