Eficácia da água ozonizada no controle de microrganismos em morango (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) e efeito na qualidade físico-química durante o armazenamento

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, 2017.Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar o efeito do gás ozônio dissolvido na água, em diferentes condições e combinações, sobre microrganismos deteriorantes e patogênicos e possíveis efeitos na qualidade físico-química do morango armazenado. Foram realizados dois experimentos no presente trabalho: no primeiro experimento avaliou-se a influência do pH na eficiência da água ozonizada em controlar microrganismos e possíveis alterações na qualidade físico-química do morango armazenado; no segundo experimento avaliou-se a eficiência da água ozonizada em diferentes combinações de concentração e tempo de imersão no controle de microrganismos e possíveis alterações na qualidade físico-química do morango armazenado. Foram utilizados morangos da variedade “Portola” adquiridos de um produtor da região administrativa de Brazlândia – Distrito Federal. Para avaliar a influência do pH na água ozonizada, os morangos foram divididos em seis lotes, três lotes em que o gás ozônio foi dissolvido na água na concentração de 21 mg L-1 por 15 min de borbulhamento e três lotes em que não foram ozonizados, correspondendo aos tratamentos: água destilada ozonizada com pH 3,0 e concentração de ozônio na água de 0,11 mg L-1, água destilada ozonizada com pH 6,5 e concentração de ozônio na água de 0,08 mg L-1, água destilada ozonizada com pH 8,7 e concentração de ozônio na água de 0,04 mg L-1; os outros três tratamentos foram testemunhas, águas destiladas com pH’s 3,0, 6,5 e 8,7. Para se chegar ao valor de pH 3,0 utilizou-se ácido cítrico e para o valor de pH 8,7 utilizou-se bicabornato de sódio, o pH 6,5 não foi alterado. O tempo de imersão em todos os tratamentos foi de 5 min. Após essa etapa os morangos foram armazenados em câmara fria a 5 °C. As análises dos frutos foram realizadas no dia da ozonização (tempo zero) e a cada dois dias até o dia seis de armazenamento. Na etapa microbiológica foi avaliado a presença de Salmonella spp., coliformes totais, E. coli, bolores e leveduras e aeróbios mesófilos, todos expressos em log (UFC g-1). As variáveis qualitativas avaliadas foram: perda de massa fresca, pH, acidez total titulável, teor de sólidos solúveis, relação SST/ATT e coloração. Adotou-se Delineamento Inteiramente Casualizado em esquema fatorial 6x4, sendo seis tratamentos e quatro períodos de armazenamento (0, 2, 4 e 6), com três repetições. Inicialmente realizou-se análise de variância e posteriormente análise de regressão. Verificou-se que o pH influenciou a eficiência da água ozonizada no controle de microrganismos indesejáveis em morangos durante o armazenamento. No que se refere à qualidade físico-química dos morangos, a água ozonizada foi capaz de retardar a perda de massa fresca, manter os níveis de pH, sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável, relação SST/ATT e das variáveis referentes à cor. Para avaliar a eficiência da água ozonizada em diferentes concentrações e com tempo de imersão de 7,5 min, segundo experimento, os morangos foram divididos em três lotes: gás ozônio dissolvido em água na concentração de 45 mg L-1 e borbulhado por 40 min, gás ozônio dissolvido em água na concentração de 20 mg L-1 e, por fim, o último lote não foi submetido à imersão em água ozonizada. Em seguida os morangos foram armazenados em câmara fria a 5 °C. As análises dos frutos foram realizadas no dia da ozonização (tempo zero) e a cada três dias até o dia nove de armazenamento. As etapas de análises microbiológicas e qualidade físico-química dos morangos foram idênticas às do primeiro experimento. Adotou-se Delineamento Inteiramente Casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x4, sendo três tratamentos e quatro períodos de armazenamento (0, 3, 6 e 9), com três repetições. Inicialmente realizou-se análise de variância e posteriormente análise de regressão. A água ozonizada foi eficiente no controle de microrganismos, principalmente no que se refere a aeróbios mesófilos. Em relação à qualidade físico-química dos morangos armazenados, a água ozonizada não afetou expressivamente a perda de massa fresca, pH, sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável, relação SST/ATT e variáveis referentes à cor. Concluiu-se, a partir dos resultados obtidos nos dois experimentos, que a utilização de água ozonizada pode tornar-se um método promissor no controle de microrganismos e na manutenção da qualidade físico-química de morangos armazenados.The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of ozone gas dissolved in water under different conditions and combinations on deteriorating and pathogenic microorganisms and possible effects on the physical-chemical quality of the stored strawberry. Two experiments were carried out in the present work: the first experiment evaluated the influence of pH on the ozonated water efficiency in controlling microorganisms and possible changes in the physical-chemical quality of the stored strawberry; In the second experiment the efficiency of the ozonated water in different combinations of concentration and time of immersion in the control of microorganisms and possible changes in the physical-chemical quality of the stored strawberry were evaluated. Strawberries of the "Portola" variety were purchased from a producer in the administrative region of Brazlândia – Distrito Federal. To evaluate the influence of pH on ozonated water, strawberries were divided into six batches, three batches in which the ozone gas was dissolved in the water at a concentration of 21 mg L-1 for 15 min of bubbling and three batches in which were not ozonated, Corresponding to the treatments: ozonized distilled water with pH 3.0 and ozone concentration in water of 0.11 mg L-1, ozonated distilled water with pH 6.5 and ozone concentration in water of 0.08 mg L-1, ozonated distilled water with pH 8.7 and ozone concentration in the water of 0.04 mg L-1; The other three treatments were control, distilled waters with pH’s of 3.0, 6.5 and 8.7. In order to reach pH 3.0, citric acid was used and sodium bicarbonate was used for pH 8.7, pH 6.5 was not altered. The immersion time in all treatments was 5 min. After this stage the strawberries were stored in a cold room at 5 °C. The fruits were analyzed on the day of ozonation (time zero) and every two days until day six of storage. In the microbiological stage, the presence of Salmonella spp., Total coliforms, E. coli, molds and yeasts and aerobes mesophiles, all expressed in log (UFC g-1), were evaluated. The qualitative variables evaluated were: fresh weight loss, pH, total titratable acidity, soluble solids content, ratio and staining. A completely randomized design was used in a 6x4 factorial scheme, with six treatments and four storage periods (0, 2, 4 and 6), with three replications. Initially, analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed. It was found that pH influenced the efficiency of ozonated water in the control of undesirable microorganisms in strawberries during storage. As regards the physico-chemical quality of strawberries, ozonated water was able to delay the loss of fresh mass, maintain pH levels, total soluble solids, titratable total acidity, ratio and color variables. To evaluate the efficiency of the ozonated water at different concentrations and with an immersion time of 7.5 min, strawberries were divided into three lots: ozone gas dissolved in water at a concentration of 45 mg L-1 and bubbled for 40 min, ozone gas dissolved in water at a concentration of 20 mg L-1, and lastly the last batch was not subjected to immersion in ozonated water. The strawberries were then stored in a cold room at 5 °C. The fruits were analyzed on the day of ozonation (zero time) and every three days until day nine of storage. The stages of microbiological analysis and physical-chemical quality of the strawberries were identical to those of the first experiment. A completely randomized design was used in a 3x4 factorial scheme, with three treatments and four storage periods (0, 3, 6 and 9), with three replications. Initially, analysis of variance and regression analysis were performed. The ozonated water was efficient in the control of microorganisms, especially with regard to aerobic mesophiles. Regarding the physico-chemical quality of the stored strawberries, the ozonated water did not significantly affect the loss of fresh mass, pH, total soluble solids, total titratable acidity, ratio and color variables. It was concluded from the results obtained in the two experiments that the use of ozonated water can become a promising method in the control of microorganisms and in the maintenance of the physico-chemical quality of stored strawberries

POST-HARVEST AS A TOOL TO IMPROVE BERRY FRUIT QUALITY

The purpose of this thesis was to research some innovative post-harvest techniques with potential to extend the shelf-life of berry fruit during storage and enhance their overall quality. Emphasis was given to different packaging system, in particular microperforated film, edible film, and electrostatic spraying of antimicrobial coating. The berry fruits studied were blueberry and strawberry. These fruits were selected because of their increasing worldwide consumption, among the many different types of berries. The application of microperforated polypropylene film to store freshly harvested blueberries, demonstrated the importance of selecting a proper packaging to increase the storage period and maintain the quality attributes of the fruit. The number of microperforations made to the film (1, 10, and 30) created a passive modified atmosphere within the package that led to improvement of firmness and antioxidant activity of the fruit, throughout their storage period. Equilibrium atmosphere within the packaging was achieved after two days of storage and the concentration of gases remained constant for the rest of the storage period. This stable atmospheric condition resulted in an extension of the shelf-life of blueberry for up to 16 days, at 4°C. Strawberry shelf-life extension and quality improvements were obtained by storing the fruit in clamshells that contained strawberry puree edible films infused with carvacrol and methyl cinnamate. The strawberry puree edible films served as matrix for the controlled release of natural antimicrobial’s (Carvacrol and methyl cinnamate) vapors, over time. Fresh strawberries packed in clamshells had an extended shelf life of 10 days, at 10◦C and 90% RH. The released vapors from the strawberry puree edible film extended the strawberry shelf-life by delaying spoilage of the fruit and improved main quality-related attributes, such as firmness and brightness. The natural antimicrobial vapors also increased the total soluble phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the stored strawberry. Besides microbial spoilage, that limits strawberry shelf-life, the presence of foodborne pathogens bacteria that can be carried by the fruit as result of contamination, is another important issue that can lead to serious outbreaks. Antimicrobial edible coatings can be an effective post-harvest technique to assure microbial safety and, at the same time, retain overall quality of the fruit. Antimicrobial alginate coating was developed and optimized using response surface methodology. Antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Botrytis cinerea, as well as physical properties such as viscosity, turbidity and whitish index of the coating were also optimized based on carvacrol and methyl cinnamate concentration. After the optimization, the resulted antimicrobial coating solution was applied on the surface of freshly harvested strawberry fruit using an electrostatic spraying technology. This technology presented unique advantage with regard to transfer efficiency and evenness application of the antimicrobial coating solution. The antimicrobial coating application led to a significant increase on strawberry shelf-life. Additionally, the strawberry coated using the electrostatic spraying technology presented a significant reduction of visible decay of four days compared to not-coated fruit, and of one day compared to fruit coated with conventional spray method. Moreover, the firmness and color of the strawberries were improved by coating the fruit using the electrostatic spraying technology. Therefore, electrostatic spraying could be considered a potential technology for the commercial application of liquid coating to extend the shelf-life and improve the post-harvest quality of strawberry and other perishable fruits

Functional Coatings for Food Packaging Applications

The food packaging industry is experiencing one of the most relevant revolutions associated with the transition from fossil-based polymers to new materials of renewable origin. However, high production costs, low performance, and ethical issues still hinder the market penetration of bioplastics. Recently, coating technology was proposed as an additional strategy for achieving a more rational use of the materials used within the food packaging sector. According to the packaging optimization concept, the use of multifunctional thin layers would enable the replacement of multi-layer and heavy structures, thus reducing the upstream amount of packaging materials while maintaining (or even improving) the functional properties of the final package to pursue the goal of overall shelf life extension. Concurrently, the increasing requirements among consumers for convenience, smaller package sizes, and for minimally processed, fresh, and healthy foods have necessitated the design of highly sophisticated and engineered coatings. To this end, new chemical pathways, new raw materials (e.g., biopolymers), and non-conventional deposition technologies have been used. Nanotechnology, in particular, paved the way for the development of new architectures and never-before-seen patterns that eventually yielded nanostructured and nanocomposite coatings with outstanding performance. This book covers the most recent advances in the coating technology applied to the food packaging sector, with special emphasis on active coatings and barrier coatings intended for the shelf life extension of perishable foods

Postharvest Technology

Postharvest management of food crops is an important part of food safety and security across the supply chain. It includes processing of agricultural produce, storage, packaging and coating, postharvest disease management, extending shelf life, and maintaining food quality and safety. Postharvest Technology - Recent Advances, New Perspectives and Applications discusses some important aspects of postharvest technologies. Chapters address such topics as postharvest preservation technology, postharvest disease management, and postharvest processing and packaging