Abstract

DAIUTO, ÉRICA REGINA et al. Postharvest of 'Hass' avocados submitted to UV-C radiation . rev.colomb.cienc.hortic. [online]. 2013, vol.7, n.2, pp.149-160. ISSN 2011-2173.

The effect of UV-C radiation on 'Hass' avocado postharvest conservation was evaluated. Selected fruits were submitted to UV-C radiation for 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes, refrigerated (10±1°C and 90±5% relative humidity), and evaluated for 15 days. Weight loss, respiratory rate, total titratable acidity (TTA), total soluble solids (TTS), ratio (TTS/TTA), pH firmness, total phenolics and antioxidant activity of DPPH• were evaluated. Firmness and total phenolic content decreased during the experimental period in fruits of all the treatments. There was a moderate, significant correlation (P=0.0; r=0.455) between fruit antioxidant activity and total phenolic content. The treatments with UV-C light exposures of 15 and 20 minutes presented higher percentages of antioxidant activity when compared to the other treatments between the 6th and 12th days of storage; weight loss was lower than in the control treatment and soluble solids values were more stable during the experimental period. These results indicate that the use of UV-C light is an option for 'Hass' avocado conservation.

Keywords : Persea americana Mill.; refrigeration; respiratory rate; anti free radical scavenger activity.

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