There is a demand in Submédio São Francisco, a semiarid grape producing region in Brazil, for sustainable measures to control postharvest diseases, since the current model of coating boxes with high density polyethylene, associated with sodium metabisulfite, has not been effective in controlling fungi occurring in this region. The aim of this study was to evaluate the control of Aspergillus rot in 'Thompson Seedless' grapes by modifying the atmosphere, using polyamide bags to cover the grape boxes. Polyamide (PA) bags were compared with high density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, commonly used in this region, combined or not with sodium metabisulfite (SO 2 ). Fruits from a commercial area, after being selected and disinfested, were wounded with an entomological pin and inoculated with a suspension of Aspergillus niger at a concentration of 10 6 conidia mL v.38, n.3, p.216-222, 2012. were placed in specific bags according to the treatment and stored at temperature of 2° C and relative humidity of 75% for 40 days. From the 12 th day of storage, the incidence of the disease and the physicochemical variables: mass loss, total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titrable acidity (TA), ratio (TSS / TA); peroxidase (POD) and measurement of the concentrations of CO 2 and O 2 were weekly evaluated until the 40 th day. The experimental design was completely randomized in split plot with five replicates. The covering of grape boxes with polyamide bags, even without the use of sodium metabisulfite, showed to be a viable alternative for maintaining the postharvest quality of grapes 'Thompson Seddless', as well as for reducing rot caused by A. niger. The enzyme peroxidase may have acted in the process of maintaining fruit quality, contributing to a reduction in the level of the disease in grapes.Existe uma demanda, na região semiárida produtora de uvas no Submédio São Francisco, por medidas sustentáveis de controle de doenças pós-colheita, uma vez que o modelo atual de revestimento de caixas com polietileno de alta densidade, associado ao metabissulfito de sódio, não tem se mostrado eficiente no controle dos fungos que ocorrem na região. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estudar um controle da podridão por Aspergillus em uvas 'Thompson Seedless' por meio da modificação da atmosfera, pelo envolvimento de caixas de uva em bolsões de poliamida. Comparou-se o bolsão de poliamida (PA) ao de polietileno alta densidade (PEAD), comumente usado na região, combinados ou não com o metabissulfito de sódio (SO 2 Additional keywords: postharvest disease, alternative control, polyamide.
ABSTRACT
RESUMOPalavras-chave adicionais: doenças pós-colheita, controle alternativo, poliamida.