Tecnologia para conservação pós-colheita de banana 'Prata-Anã': 1-metilciclopropeno, atmosfera modificada, etileno e refrigeração

Abstract

Banana production has social and economic importance in Brazil and around the world. Thus researches that aim to increase its shelf life keeping fruit quality are necessary. This work aimed to develop a technology for post-harvest conservation of 'Prata-ana' banana with the use of 1-methylcyclopropene (1- MCP), ethylene, packaging and cold storage. The fruits were taken to the laboratory where they were divided into bouquets of three fruit, selected, washed and sanitized. Subsequently, two experiments were carried out where combinations of application of 1-MCP, exposure to ethylene and packaging were tested. The experimental design was completely at random, with the first experiment in a 6 x 7 factorial and the second one divided into two as the storage temperature. For the first storage the 5x6 factorial and for the second one it was 5x5. In the experiment I, the fruits were stored at 25 ± 1 °C and 90% RH, with the following treatments: T1 (control), T2 (macro-holed packaging and application of 1-MCP 90 nLL⎺¹), T3 (polyethylene packaging and application of 1-MCP dose in 90 nLL⎺¹), T4 (macro-holed packaging and application of exogenous ethylene), T5 (polyethylene packaging and application of exogenous ethylene), T6 (application of exogenous ethylene in fruit stored in packaging when they were 50% yellow, application of 1-MCP 300 nLL⎺¹) and T7 (application of exogenous ethylene in fruit stored in polyethylene packing, when they were 50% yellow, application of 1-MCP 300 nLL⎺¹). The evaluations were performed every two days for 11 days. For the experiment II, the fruits were stored at 16 ± 1 °C and 90% RH for 26 days and after at 25 ± 1 °C and 90% RH % for 9 days. The treatments were: T1 (control), T2 (macro- holed packaging and application of 1-MCP 90 nLL⎺¹ ), T3 (polyethylene packaging and application of 1-MCP 90nLL), T4 (application of exogenous ethylene in fruits stored in macro-holed packing when they were 50% yellow, treatment with 1-MCP at a dose of 300 nLL⎺¹) and T5 (application of exogenous ethylene in fruit stored in polyethylene packings, when they were 50 % yellow, application of 1-MCP 300 nLL⎺¹). The evaluations were performed every 5 days for storage at 16 °C and every 2 days for storage at 25 °C. Th analyzed variables were: skin color, fresh matter loss, firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, starch and sugars. The results were submitted to variance analysis and description of the variables held by regression analysis and Tukey test (p < 0.05). The 1-MCP delayed fruit ripening maintaining their physical- chemical characteristics during storage. The association of the product with the packaging delayed changes resulting from ripening. Application of 1-MCP in bananas partially ripe under the effect of exogenous ethylene did not present results that indicate control in the ripening process. The use of 1-MCP associated with polyethylene packaging is effective in post-harvest conservation of 'Prata-ana' banana for 34 days without affecting fruit quality.