The purpose of this research was to examine the postharvest quality of two yellow melon genotypes TSX 32096 and SUNEX 7057, at room temperature (30,0 ± 1°C and at relative humidity of 50,0 ± 5%). The experiment was carried out in Mossoró, Brazil, with fruits produced at Pólo Agrícola Mossoró-Assu. The region is characterized by hot dry summer with maximum and minimum temperature of 33ºC and 29ºC, respectively. Fruits were harvested at the stage of commercial maturity. Immediately after harvesting and selection (fruits presenting good external characteristics of quality) were transported to Mossoró and were stored during 49 days. The analyses were conducted at seven-day-intervals. A 2 x 8 factorial in completely randomized design with three replications was used. The factorial consisted of two genotypes (TSX 32096 and SUNEX 7057) and eight storage periods (0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days). The following traits were evaluated during this period: pulp firmness, weight loss, external and internal aspect, titratable acidity, pH, soluble solids contents, total vitamin C and soluble sugars (reducing, non-reducing and totals). A significant interaction was observed among the factors cultivars x time during storage for pulp firmness, internal aspect and soluble sugars (reducing, non-reducing and totals). The results of this study showed regular increase of weight loss and decline of pulp firmness during storage. The firmness of the pulp tissue and external and internal quality declined during storage for two cultivars, however, the cultivar TSX 32096 showed a significantly higher pulp firmness and better internal aspect. The values for pulp firmness at 42 days of storage was18,40 N and 15,38 N for cultivars TSX 32096 and SUNEX 7057, respectively. The weight loss observed at 42 and 49 days of storage was 4,60% and 5,12% for the two cultivars. A decline of titratable acidity, soluble solids contents and total vitamin C for two cultivars was observed. The total sugars increased (6,8% to 8,2%) and decline (9,5% to 8,8%) during fruits storage of cultivars TSX 32096 and SUNEX 7057, respectively. Fruits of TSX 32096 and SUNEX 7057 melon presented 42 days of shelf life (30,0 ± 1°C and at relative humidity of 50,0 ± 5%).
Cucumis melo L.; storage; quality
