This work was developed aiming to induce ripening of mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) cv Ubá e cv Tommy Atkins after postharvest application of ethephon and to evaluate its effect on physical and chemical attributes that characterize preservation and quality of fruits. Half of fruits sample was submersed in water, while other half of fruits was submersed in water solutions containing 1,000 mg.L-1 of ethephon. A split plot design with three replications was used. The main plot was composed of treatments with application and no application of ethephon and the by-plots were composed of five periods of evaluation (in the day of harvest and 3, 6, 9, and 12 days after harvest). Based on analyses of pulp firmness, weight loss, contents of soluble solids (SS) and total titratable acidity (TTA), starch degradation index and ratio SS/TTA, postharvest application of ethephon was efficient to accelerate the ripening of mangoes cv Tommy Atkins e cv Ubá and to contribute for obtaining desirable characteristics in a smaller storage period at environmental conditions, except for regarding pulp firmness. In this case, having in mind the importance of this characteristic to determine quality in fresh fruits, the application of ethephon was damaging, mainly for mangoes cv Ubá, reducing shelf life of fruits because of total softening of pulp verified at least three days after harvest.
Mangifera indica L.; ripening; ethylene; mango
