POST-HARVEST QUALITY OF PEQUI (Caryocar brasiliense CAMB.) COLLECTED FROM THE PLANT OR AFTER NATURALLY FALLING OFF AND SUBJECTED TO SLOW AND QUICK FREEZING

ABSTRACT Soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, pH, moisture, soluble sugars (SSU), total reducing sugars (RSU), and non-reducing sugars (NRS) were assessed in the pulp of pequi fruits collected at three ripening stages: from the plant, from the ground after naturally falling off, and collected from the ground three days after naturally falling off. The evaluation was performed after six months of freezer storage both for fruits subjected to quick freezing (liquid nitrogen followed by freezer) and slow freezing (straight into the freezer). The variables assessed were not influenced by the freezing method. The SS, TA, and RSU contents increased with the ripening stage, suggesting that the fruits collected from the plant are still immature and have lower quality than those collected after naturally falling off. Although considered mature when they fall off, fruits consumed three days after naturally falling off have better quality

Avaliação de diferentes sanificantes na qualidade microbiológica de mandioquinha-salsa minimamente processada Evaluation of different sanitizers on the microbiological quality of fresh-cut peruvian carrot

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a eficiência dos sanificantes hipoclorito de sódio, peróxido de hidrogênio e dicloro isocianurato de sódio aplicados antes e após o processamento mínimo de mandioquinha-salsa. Foram utilizadas raízes de mandioquinhasalsa da cultivar Amarela de Senador Amaral adquiridas no comércio local. Para limpeza superficial das raízes foram utilizados detergente e água. Após, as raízes foram divididas em dois grupos: controle (não sanificado) e sanificado, por imersão em dicloro isocianurato de sódio 100 mg.L-1, por 15 minutos. Em seguida foram descascadas, fatiadas em rodelas e imersas nos seguintes sanificantes: hipoclorito de sódio (25, 50 e 100 mg.L-1, por 10 minutos), peróxido de hidrogênio (3 e 6%, por 5 minutos) e dicloro isocianurato de sódio (50, 100 e 200 mg.L-1, por 10 minutos); embaladas e armazenadas em câmara fria ( 5 ± 1ºC e 98% UR), durante 15 dias. As análises realizadas a cada 3 dias foram pH, acidez titulável, sólidos solúveis, colimetria e pesquisa de Salmonella sp.. As variáveis pH, AT e SS não foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos utilizados. A presença de coliformes 45 ºC e Salmonella sp. não foi detectada, durante o armazenamento de mandioquinha-salsa minimamente processada, controle ou sanificada e foram observadas contagens baixas para coliformes 35 ºC. A sanificação do produto antes do processamento com dicloro isocianurato de sódio 100 mg.L-1 e condições higiênico-sanitárias adequadas, durante o processamento, possibilita a obtenção de um produto com padrão microbiológico de acordo com a legislação de alimentos, até o 15º dia de armazenamento.<br>The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of the sanitizers sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide and sodium dichloro isocianurate applied before and after the minimum processing of the Peruvian carrot. Peruvian carrots of the cultivar Amarela de Senador Amaral purchased in the local commerce were utilized. Detergent and water were used for the surface cleaning of the roots. Afterwards, the roots were divided into two groups: control (not sanitized) and sanitized, for immersion into 100mg.L-1 sodium dichloro isocyanurate for 15 minutes. They were then peeled, sliced into rings and immersed into the following sanitizers: sodium hypochlorite (25, 50 and 100 mg.L-1 for 10 minutes), hydrogen peroxide (3 and 6%, for 5 minutes) and sodium dichloro isocyanurate (50, 100 and 200 mg.L-1 for 10 minutes); packed and stored in cold chamber ( 5 ± 1ºC and 98% RH) for 15 days. The following analyses were performed every 3 days: pH, titrable acidity, soluble solids, coliforms determination and search for Salmonella. The pH, AT and SS variables were not affected by the used treatments. The presence of coliforms at 45ºC and Salmonella was not detected during the storage of either control or sanitized fresh-cut Peruvian carrots and low counts for coliforms at 35ºC were found. The sanitization of the produce before processing with 100mg.L-1 sodium dichloro isocyanurate and hygienic-sanitary conditions during processing allow obtaining a produce with microbiological standard according to the food legislation until the 15th day of storage