‘LAETITIA’ PLUMS STORED IN CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES COMBINED WITH INDUCTION OF MASS LOSS AND ETHYLENE MANEGEMENT

English. ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative effects of controlled atmosphere (CA) associated with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP; 1.0 μL L−1), induction of mass loss (IML; 2%), and low ethylene (LE; <0.04 μL L−1 of C2H4) on the quality preservation of ‘Laetitia’ plums. In experiment 1 (2010), the treatments evaluated were cold storage (CS; 21.0 kPa O2 + <0.03 kPa CO2), CA1 (1 kPa O2 + 1 kPa CO2), CA1 + 1-MCP, CA1 + IML, and CA1 + LE. In experiment 2 (2011), the treatments evaluated were CS, CA2 (2 kPa O2 + 2 kPa CO2), CA2 + IML, and CA2 + 1-MCP. In both experiments, the fruit were stored at 0.5 ± 0.1°C and 96 ± 2% RH. CA storage delayed fruit ripening in both atmosphere conditions evaluated and reduced the internal browning of the ‘Laetitia’ plums, particularly in CA2. 1-MCP, LE, and IML had additional effects to CA1 on preserving flesh consistency. 1-MCP, irrespective of the CA condition, and IML, in CA1, reduced internal browning. CA1, regardless of the complementary technologies, reduced the incidence of decay and fruit cracking.

Portuguese. RESUMO Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da atmosfera controlada (AC) associada ao 1-metilciclopropeno (1-MCP; 1,0 μL L-1), à indução de perda de massa (IPM; 2%) e ao baixo etileno (BE; <0,04 μL L-1 de C2H4) sobre a manutenção da qualidade de ameixas ‘Laetitia’. No experimento 1, em 2010, os tratamentos avaliados foram armazenamento refrigerado (AR; 21 kPa O2 + <0,03 kPa CO2), AC1 (1 kPa O2 + 1 kPa CO2), AC1+1-MCP, AC1+IPM e AC1+BE. No experimento 2, em 2011, os tratamentos foram AR, AC2 (2 kPa O2 + 2 kPa CO2), AC2+1-MCP e AC2+IPM. Em ambos os experimentos, os frutos foram armazenados a 0,5±0,1 ºC e 96±2% de umidade relativa. A AC retardou o amadurecimento, em ambas as atmosferas avaliadas, e reduziu o escurecimento de polpa de ameixas ‘Laetitia’, especialmente na AC2. O 1-MCP, o BE e a IPM apresentaram efeito adicional à AC1 na manutenção da consistência da polpa. O 1-MCP, independente da condição de AC, e a IPM, na condição de AC1, reduziram o escurecimento da polpa. A AC1, independente do uso de tecnologias complementares, reduziu a incidência de podridões e de rachaduras.