The effects of acids and films in preventing the pericarp browning of lychee were evaluated. `Bengal' lychees with pericarp completely red were harvested and treated as follows: immersion in citric acid 100 mM for 5 minutes, immersion in hydrochloric acid 1 N for 2 minutes, immersion in cassava starch 30 g/L for 5 minutes and the film of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) 14 mm thick, and a control, untreated. The fruits of all treatments were placed in polystyrene trays (220 mm x 140 mm x 40 mm), stored in a chamber at 5.0 ± 1.2° C and 90 ± 5% UR, and were evaluated every 4 days, for 20 days. The cassava starch and citric acid were not effective in preventing or delaying the browning of the lychee pericarp. The PVC maintained the red color of the pericarp only until the fourth day of storage. The HCl was effective in preventing the pericarp browning throughout the experimental period without spoiling the post-harvest quality.
Litchi chinensis Sonn; polyphenoloxidase; peroxidase; post-harvest quality
