Papaya fruits of Sunrise Solo and Golden cultivars were stored at 10ºC and 25ºC. They were daily evaluated on C2H4 and CO2 production rates, by observing the peel color index increasing. The non increasing of the peel color index, during the 20 days of stored, was influenced by the appropriate refrigeration temperature whose inhibit papayas metabolism. It was noticed in the fourth and between the eighth and ninth day an increasing on respiration and ethylene rates, in the fruits stored at 25ºC. The refrigeration decreased the respiration rate and papayas ethylene production, showing a metabolism reduction allowing fruits to present unripe appearance, even after 20 days of storage.
Carica papaya; respiration; post-harvest; ripening
