This work had the aim of studying the effect of treatments with ascorbic acid (AA), calcium chloride (CC) and L-cysteine hydrochloride (LC) on the postharvest quality of fresh-cut 'Apple' banana. The following combinations were tested: 1 (Control); 2 (AA 1%); 3 (CC 1%); 4 (LC 0.5%); 5 (AA 1% + CC 1%); 6 (AA 1% + LC 0.5%); 7 (CC 1% + LC 0.5%); 8 (AA 1% + CC 1% + LC 0.5%). The bananas were peeled, sliced and immersed into the treatments, conditioned on trays, which were wrapped with 30 µm PVC film, and stored at 5 ± 1ºC and 90 ± 3% RH, during 4 days. Evaluations occurred at 0, 1, 2 and 4 days. There was an increase in the mass loss during the storage period, lower in the treatment 8 in relation to the others. Total titratable acidity increased linearly throughout the time in all treatments. The loss of firmness was prevented more efficiently in the treatments with calcium chloride. A pinkish-red color formation on the slices treated with L-cysteine was observed and evidenced by the highest values of a*. The L* value and the browning index were also affected by the treatments containing L-cysteine, whose decrease in these color parameters was higher in the untreated slices throughout the time. The treatment of fresh-cut 'Apple' banana with the combination AA 1% + CC 1% + LC 0.5% was efficient for its postharvest quality maintenance.
Minimal processing; postharvest; Musa spp.; calcium chloride; cysteine; ascorbic acid
