Ultraviolet-C Radiation on Psidium cattleyanum L. Conservation and Its Influence on Physico-chemical Fruits Characteristics

Aims: The present study aimed to evaluate UV-C radiation influence on physicochemical and phytochemical characteristics of yellow cherry guava fruits.

Study Design: The staining data obtained were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA), being the results compared with each other by the test of Tukey (P = .05). The other data were submitted to the ANOVA (P = .05), and when there was a significant difference, the means were compared by the Hartley Test (P = .05).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was developed in March 2017 at Palma Agricultural Center and Post-Harvest and Fruit Quality Laboratory at LabAagro, at Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel).

Methodology: Psidium cattleyanum fruits near the maturity point were harvested in the orchard. The fruits were divided into a completely randomized design, with four treatments, which had four replicates composed of fifteen samples each. Evaluations and UV-C radiation were performed at intervals of four days from zero to 12 d, being two minutes the exposure time of the fruits to UV-C radiation in each application, fruits were stored in a cold chamber at 4°C temperature and relative humidity of 85-90%. The variables analyzed were skin colour, fruit length, fruit diameter, soluble solids (SS), initial fruit weight, final fruit weight, mass loss, hydrogen ionic potential (pH) and titratable total acidity.

Results: UV-C radiation usage did not significantly interfere with the physicochemical characteristics of the evaluated yellow cherry guava fruits.

Conclusion: The use of UV-C radiation associated with cold-chamber storage maintained fruit quality for a period significantly longer compared to storage at room temperature.