Postharvest packing process of 'Tahiti' acid lime affects their quality and conservation

ABSTRACT:

This study aimed to determine the effects of postharvest packing line stages of 'Tahiti' acid lime on their quality and conservation. Fruits were harvested by twisting in physiological maturation stage and packed according to the procedure for export fruits. Five sampling points were set throughout the packing line, which correspond to the treatments studied: "Field"- sampling directly in the plant; "Reception"- collection in the reception area of the packinghouse; "Rest"- collection after the first stage of the packing process; "Complete packing"- collection at the end of the packing process; "Marketing center" and collects at the reception area of the marketing center. Physical and chemical analyzes were conducted for 20 days of storage at 22±2ºC and 70±5% RH. Fruits that have gone through the complete packing process and those collected in the marketing center had higher fresh mass loss, higher incidence of oleocellosis, lower percentage of fruit on condition of marketing at the end of the storage period, pulp browning and higher degradation of ascorbic acid. Quality and conservation of 'Tahiti' lime fruits were affected by movement, handling and mechanical injuries that occur during postharvest processing.

Key words:
Citrus latifolia; mechanical injury; packing-house; postharvest losses