Cera de carnaúba e própolis na conservação pós-colheita de laranha 'CNPMF NATAL 112' em condição refrigerada

Abstract

Brazil stands out as a major producer of orange, where the northeast region accounts for 10% of the national production. Consumption is increasing due to its nutritional and functional value, however, when the fruits are harvested, they have a shorter post harvest life. In view of the above, the objective of this study was to evaluate aqueous and alcoholic propolis and carnauba wax in the conservation of 'CNPMF Natal 112' orange stored in refrigerated condition. The study was conducted in the period from August to September 2018, in the Chemistry Laboratory of the academic unit of Serra Talhada, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE. Fruits of orange variety 'CNPMF Natal 112' were grafted in Carnation (Citrus Limonia), obtained from the Citrus germplasm Bank of Embrapa Semiárido, located at the Experimental station of Bebedouro, Petrolina, PE. After harvesting, the fruits were transported to the chemistry laboratory of UFRPE/UAST, the washed, sanitized with sodiumhypochlorite (2.2 mg. L1 of active chlorine), selected and subsequently applied the treatments: carnaubawax (100%) and extracts of alcoholic and aqueouspropolis (30%) and the control (distilled water only), and stored in a refrigerated environment (12° C+-2). The experimental design was completely randomized, with splitplots in time, and the plots constituted by the products (carnauba wax 100%, alcohol ic and aqueousextract of propolis at 30%; and control) and the subplots were the evaluation days (0 to 30 days), the tree day interval. The variables evaluated were: fruit weight loss (g), average fruit mass (g), soluble solids, titratable acidity, vitamin C, maturation index and PH. It was observed that the use of the alcoholic propolis extract promoted lower mass loss of the orange 'CNPMF Natal 112', wich allows the fruit to become viable for a longer period. It was found that for the technological index, there was a linear increase in the averages according to the days after application of the treatments. The alcoholic propolis extract stands out because it promotes less mass loss, good maturation rate and balanced acidity, since the other characteristics were not affected by the use of the products. In this way it can be used in the quality conservation of the 'CNPMF Natal 112' orange.