Modified Atmosphere and Refrigeration in Postharvest Conservation of Atemoya cv. Gefner

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the modified atmosphere under refrigeration for 28 days in the Atemoya Gefner.

Study Design: Experiment 1 and 2 was installed in a completely randomized design, in a factorial 1x4 and 2x8, respectively.

Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was conducted in a cold chamber at the State University of Montes Claros, Brazil, between July and August 2018.

Methodology: In the first, the percentage of fruits that presented cold injury (CI) in unpackaged fruits and stored at 15°C for six days was visually evaluated. In the second experiment two pack were used and stored at 15°C and evaluated the physical and chemical characteristics.

Results: In the first experiment, from the 2nd day 100% of the fruits showed CI that progressed to stage 3 on the 6th day of storage. This result justifies the need to store the atemoya under modified atmosphere under 15°C for 28 days. It was found at the end of 28 days, experiment two, that the packages 1 and 2 showed quality fruits, with characteristics of ripe fruits, with 22 °Brix average values, reduced titrable acidity, light green color peel and good lightness. The pack1 showed better weight maintenance, with 1.54% of fresh weight loss against 2.36% for pack2.

Conclusion: There was a higher solubilization of total sugars and non-reducing sugars in pack1, being this the most indicated for atemoya fruits grown in northern Minas Gerais.