Use of cryoconservants during controlled atmosphere storage of Palmer mangoes at low temperatures

Abstract

Mango (Mangifera indica L) is a fruit very appreciated for its characteristics of flavor, aroma, color and nutritional composition, besides play an important role in the Brazilian economy. However, because it is a climacteric fruit the shelf life is very limited, both in ambient conditions (25°C) and under low temperatures (<13°C). In refrigerated conditions, the occurrence of the physiological disorder known as chilling injury limits the storage of this fruit to a maximum of 30 days. An alternative to increase the shelf-life would be the use of controlled atmosphere (CA), but the effect of this technology on the quality of the mango fruit is limited, because this technology must be associated with cold storage. An alternative to overturn these storage limitations is the use of antifreeze and/or cryoconservant substances. In food industry these compounds are used to improve the quality and prolong the shelf-life of frozen products by protecting biological tissue against damage from low temperatures, but no reports were found regarding the use of these substances in fresh fruit. Thus, The general objective of this study is to verify the possibility of using cryoconservants (propylene glycol, glycerol, and sorbitol) during the storage of mangoes under low temperatures (<13ºC) and as specific objectives: i. to study the physiological effects of the cryoconservants (chilling injury and/or toxicity) during ´Palmer´ mango storage at temperatures bellow 13ºC (10, 5, and 1ºC), ii. to associate the use of CA (5 kPa O2 and 5 kPa CO2) to the best cruoconservant, iii. study the oxidative metabolism of mango peel and pulp (lipid peroxidation, activity of the enzymes superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione redutase, and guaiacol peroxidase), iv. verify the feasibility of long storage period (>3 months) of ´Palmer´ mangoes at low-temperatures (<13ºC) with the combination of CA CA (5 kPa O2 and 5 kPa CO2) and cryoconservants. (AU)