The present study aimed to measure the postharvest quality, the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of the jabuticaba fruits under a modified atmosphere at different temperatures of cold storage. After the fruits were harvested in the mature green stage, they were packed in expanded polystyrene (EPS) trays, covered by low densidy polyethylene (LDPE) plastic film and, stored at 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 ± 1ºC and RH of 87 ± 2%, being evaluated every 5 days. Fruit were evaluated for weight loss, respiratory rate, pH, titrable acidity, soluble solids content, ascorbic acid content, texture, total and soluble pectin and polyphenoloxidase activity, phenolics composition and antioxidant capacity. For the fruits stored at 9 and 12ºC the respiratory peak was delayed when compared to other fruits stored at low temperatures, and the respiration rate was lower. The soluble solid contents increased with storage time at all temperatures, but at 9 and 12ºC the increase was proportionally smaller. The texture and ascorbic acid contents were also higher in fruits stored at 9 and 12ºC, and they showed the lowest levels of soluble pectin. The polyphenoloxidase activity decrease during the 30 days of cold storage, independent of the temperature, but the lowest values were found in the fruit stored at 9 and 12ºC. With respect to the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, the fruits stored at 12ºC showed the best scores after 30 days of cold storage. In this sense, the temperature of 12ºC was more effective in maintaining the postharvest quality of the jabuticabas.
Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg; conservation; functional compounds
