Abstract
Abstract This study investigated the effect of ozone on papaya postharvest conservation, aiming at controlling anthracnose and increasing fruit shelf life. The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Product Technology, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus-AM. Fruits were treated with 0; 0.6; 1.5 and 3.3 ppm ozone and commercial fungicide. They were then stored at room temperature (27 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 5% RH). Incidence, severity, number and size of anthracnose lesions were determined, as well as postharvest quality by assessing shelf life; accumulated and daily fresh mass loss (%), peel color, electrolyte leakage (%), soluble solids (%), titratable acidity (g 100 g-1), soluble solids / titratable acidity ratio, pH and vitamin C (mg 100 g-1). Ozone reduced anthracnose severity in the short (3.3 ppm) and long term (1.5 ppm), making it as effective as a commercial fungicide. Ozone increased shelf life by seven days and maintained the postharvest quality of papaya fruits. Thus, ozone becomes a potential technology for postharvest use as a safe alternative to the use of pesticides in reducing anthracnose and increasing shelf life of papaya fruits.
Highlights
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the most important tropical and subtropical fruits currently grown in the world (AKTARUZZAMAN et al, 2018)
Its cultivation occurs in almost all national territory and the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo and Ceará are responsible for 75% of production (IBGE, 2019), which makes Brazil among the largest exporters, with the European market as its main destination
Significant part of papaya fruits produced are discarded mainly due to their high perishability, which is related to their climatic metabolism, that is, they present postharvest respiratory elevation and ethylene production peaks
Summary
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is one of the most important tropical and subtropical fruits currently grown in the world (AKTARUZZAMAN et al, 2018). Brazil occupies a prominent position with production of approximately 1.06 million tons in 2017 (IBGE, 2019). Its cultivation occurs in almost all national territory and the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo and Ceará are responsible for 75% of production (IBGE, 2019), which makes Brazil among the largest exporters, with the European market as its main destination. Significant part of papaya fruits produced are discarded mainly due to their high perishability, which is related to their climatic metabolism, that is, they present postharvest respiratory elevation and ethylene production peaks. High ethylene production rates anticipate ripening and consequent senescence, reducing fruit shelf life. It is at this development stage that symptoms of many postharvest fruit diseases are observed
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