A trial was conducted to verify the effect of post-harvest treatment with calcium chloride by the temperature differential method on the shelf-life and quality of guavas 'Branca de Kumagai'. The treatments consisted in dipping fruits with pulp temperature at 26ºC in solutions at 5ºC of different calcium chloride concentrations: 0%, 0,5%, 1,5%, 2,5% e 3,5%. The control did not receive any kind of application. After dipping, fruits were kept under environmental conditions. The treatment with 0,5% of calcium chloride extended the shelf-life in 34,8% (3,2 days), decreased respiration rate and fresh weight loss, slightly increased the total soluble solids content, but not change the acid ascorbic content and the tritable acidity. The treatment at 0% of calcium chloride decreased its shelf-life, indicating that the solution temperature of 5ºC was harmful to the fruit metabolism.
Psidium guajava; mineral nutrition; shelf-life; ripening
