Quality of 'Tommy Atkins' mangoes in post-harvest with calcium chloride spray use in the pre-harvest period.
Hojo R. H., São José A. R., Hojo E. T. D., Alves J. F. T., Rebouças T. N. H., Dias N. O.
Author Affiliation: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia/Universidade Estadual do Sudoeste da Bahia, Estrada do Bem Querer km 04, CEP 45083-900 Vitória da Conquista, BA, Brazil.
Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura 31 : 62-70
Abstract : Fruits produced in Livramento de Nossa Senhora, Bahia, Brazil, were analysed to verify the influence of spray application of calcium chloride (CaCl2) in preharvest period on the shelf life of mango cv. 'Tommy Atkins' fruits. The sprayings of CaCl2 at 0.0, 2.0, 3.5, 5.0 and 6.5% were performed 3 times: 35, 65 and 95 days after mango flowering. The fruits were harvested, stored at 10°C and 90% RH and evaluated for 35 days. The analysed parameters were: mass loss, firmness, titratable acidity, pH, soluble solids, soluble solids and titratable acidity ratio, incidence and severity of internal breakdown. During the storage, it was observed that in relation to the mass loss, the fruits presented inferior loss when higher concentrations of CaCl2 were used, from the 28th day of storage. The soluble solids and firmness were also influenced by the higher CaCl2 concentrations. No differences were observed among the other characteristics. No effects were verified on the incidence and severity of internal breakdown. The application of CaCl2 at 3.5% in preharvest period increase the shelf life after 28 days of fruit storage, however it does not reduce the incidence of internal breakdown.