Atmosferas com altas concentrações de O2, bem como atmosferas enriquecidas com N2O têm sido sugeridas como alternativas para as atmosferas com baixo O2 e alto CO2. O armazenamento de frutos em atmosferas com alto CO2 por um longo período pode ocasionar desordens fisiológicas. Além disso, existe pouca informação na literatura sobre os efeitos de altas concentrações de O2 no metabolismo oxidativo em frutos. O N2O é um gás de ocorrência natural, não tóxico descrito como um potente antagonista à produção e à ação do etileno. Este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar a influência da atmosfera controlada com altas concentrações de O2 associadas ou não a CO2 e N2O sobre a fisiologia, o metabolismo oxidativo e o comportamento pós-colheita de bananas e goiabas. Bananas Nanicão e goiabas Kumagai foram submetidas aos tratamentos com atmosfera controlada em sistema de fluxo contínuo. Os frutos foram dispostos em câmaras sob o fluxo de 200 mL min-1. Todos os tratamentos foram mantidos em câmara com temperatura controlada de 22°C. A umidade em torno dos frutos foi mantida em 95%UR. Os frutos foram avaliados quanto à qualidade, produção de CO2, etileno e atividade enzimática. O alto O2 acelerou o início da senescência em ambos os frutos. Porém, foram observadas diferenças entre a banana e a goiaba, sendo que na banana o pico climatérico e o processo de amadurecimento foram antecipados. Na goiaba, o efeito marcante foi a perda da cor verde da casca. Provavelmente, as respostas observadas estão diretamente relacionadas à influência do oxigênio no metabolismo do etileno e as capacidades antioxidantes da banana e goiaba. Quando o alto O2 foi associado ao CO2 e ao N2O também foi verificada antecipação do início da senescência, porém foram verificadas diferenças entre os tratamentos com CO2 e aqueles com N2O. O alto O2 associado ao CO2 evitou a ocorrência de processos fermentativos mesmo nas concentrações mais elevadas de CO2. Com relação ao N2O, a associação deste gás ao alto O2 não reteve o amadurecimento. Por outro lado, sua associação ao baixo O2 permitiu aumento na vida pós-colheita de ambos os frutos, sem a ocorrência de processos fermentativos. Em relação ao metabolismo oxidativo a banana com alto O2 desencadeou acúmulo de oxigênio reativo com conseqüente alteração na atividade das enzimas oxidativas, diferindo da goiaba na qual os teores de oxigênio reativo se mantiveram baixos durante todo armazenamento. Isso ocorre, provavelmente devido às diferenças na capacidade antioxidante entre estas frutas a qual é consideravelmente maior na goiaba. / Atmospheres with high O2 levels and N2O enriched atmospheres have been suggested as an alternative to the atmospheres of low O2 and high CO2. Fruit storage under atmospheres with high CO2 for a long period may develop physiological disorders. In addition, there is not enough information about the effects of high O2 concentrations on fruits oxidative metabolism. N2O is a gas present on nature, non-toxic described as a powerful antagonist to production and action of ethylene. This work aimed to study the influence of controlled atmosphere with high O2 concentrations, associated or not to CO2 and N2O on the physiology, oxidative metabolism and post-harvest behavior of bananas and guavas. Bananas Nanicão and guava Kumagai were treated under continuous flow system. The fruits were placed into chambers under flow of 200 mL min-1. All treatments were maintained in a chamber with controlled temperature of 22°C. The humidity around the fruits was kept at 95% UR. It was quality evaluated CO2 and ethylene production and enzyme activity. The high O2 accelerated the onset of senescence in both fruits. However, differences were observed between the banana and guava, banana anticipated the occurrence of the climacteric peak by changing all the variables related to maturity. The main effect observed over guavas was the loss of peel green color. Probably, the observed responses are related to oxygen effect on ethylene and antioxidant capacity of banana and guava. When the O2 was associated with high CO2 and N2O was also observed an anticipation of the beginning of senescence, but differences were observed between CO2 and N2O treatments. The high O2 associated with CO2 prevented the occurrence of fermentative processes even at the highest concentrations of CO2. The N2O associations with high O2 do not increase postharvest life too. On the other hand, the N2O associations with low O2 allow delay ripening process. In relation to oxidative metabolism at high O2 banana triggered accumulation of reactive oxygen and consequent change in the activity of enzymes involved, differing from guava in which the levels remained low throughout storage. This is probably due to differences in the antioxidant activity of these fruits and which is considerably higher in guava. Keywords: High oxygen; Nitrous oxide;

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Horticultrure)) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / The current South African ‘Hass’ type avocado cultivars are inadequate to enhance competitiveness, cultivar diversity and profitability. In an effort to ensure competitiveness and maintain sustainability, the Agricultural Research CouncilInstitute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops (ARC-ITSC) as one the South African Avocado Industry’s (SAAI) main stakeholder, has bred and selected new superior ‘Hass’ type avocado selections. However, the cold storage potential and associated physico-chemical ripening properties of these selections (‘Jalna’, ‘OA 184’ and ‘Balboa’) have not been documented. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of cold storage on internal and external physico-chemical ripening variables of the new ‘Hass’ type avocado selections. New ‘Hass’ type avocado fruit maturity was evaluated using moisture content, thereafter, harvested, sorted, graded and stored under two temperature regimes (2.0°C and 5.5°C) for 28 days to simulate export conditions. The experiment was a completely randomised factorial design with three treatment factors; temperature regimes (2.0°C and 5.5°C), days to ripening and ‘Hass’ type avocado selections fruit and control (commercial ‘Hass’) replicated three times. After withdrawal from cold storage, fruit were ripened at ambient temperature and evaluated for electrical conductivity, external chilling injury, fruit water loss, skin colour change, ripening percentage, firmness, respiration rate and seed:fruit weight ratio. Results indicated that treatment factors had no significant effect on moisture content (P=0.733) and chilling injury (P=0.776). Treatment factors had a significant effect on electrical conductivity (P=0.004), skin colour parameters; eye colour (P<0.001), hue angle (P<0.001), lightness (P=0.011) and chroma (P=0.042). Selection ‘Jalna’ fruit started changing colour whilst in storage (2.0°C and 5.5°C). Furthermore, ‘Hass’ type avocado selection fruit followed a declining pattern for lightness, chroma and hue angle in agreement with commercial ‘Hass’. Moreover, results indicated that treatment factors had a significant effect (P<0.001) on respiration rate, fruit firmness, ripening percentage and seed:fruit weight ratio. Selection ‘Jalna’ and ‘OA 184’ desynchronised mesocarp softening with exocarp due to genetically non-softening exocarp. Treatment factors had no significant effect (P=0.998) on fruit water loss during ripening. Selection ‘OA 184’ fruit showed export potential due to its good storage, ripening physico-chemical and shelf-life properties. Studies on cold sterilisation would add more value on generated scientific information, as such would enable the SAAI to gain access to high paying export markets. In addition, the selections should be planted and evaluated in other avocado producing region

As frutas deteriorarem-se em poucos dias, tendo sua comercialização in natura dificultada a grandes distâncias. Além disso, estima-se que as perdas pós-colheita variem de 15 a 50% do total. Desta forma, a produção de polpas de frutas congeladas se tornou um meio favorável para o seu aproveitamento integral na época da safra, evitando os problemas ligados à sazonalidade. Os flavonóides e o ácido ascórbico presente em frutas apresentam atividade antioxidante, associada à menor incidência de crônico-degenerativas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o efeito do armazenamento em condições comerciais (-18 ºC) de polpas de frutas (acerola, açaí, amora e morango) e o efeito do processamento artesanal para sua obtenção sobre os teores de flavonóides, vitamina C e atividade antioxidante in vitro. A composição dos flavonóides e os teores de vitamina C foram determinados por CLAE, o teor de fenólicos totais através do método Folin-Ciocalteu, e a atividade antioxidante pelo método de co-oxidação do &#946;-caroteno/ácido linoléico e através do seqüestro de radicais livres do DPPH. Os resultados mostraram que o efeito do processamento para obtenção das polpas de frutas congeladas sobre os teores de compostos fenólicos e vitamina C varia de acordo com o fruto. No caso do morango e da amora, as polpas apresentaram teores similares aos seus respectivos frutos. Já para acerola, a separação do epicarpo e das sementes durante o processo de despolpamento ocasionou um aumento do teor de vitamina C e diminuição do teor de flavonóides na polpa. O armazenamento de polpas congeladas de morango, amora, açaí e acerola em condições comerciais (-18 ºC), por até um ano, não afeta os teores de flavonóides, vitamina C, fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante. / The fruits become deteriorated in few days, therefore their commercialization is difficult for long distances. Thus, production of frozen fruits pulps become a favorable method for utilization of the integral fruit. The fruits containing flavonoids and ascorbic acid that are bioactive compounds that present antioxidant activity due to their ability of reducing the formation of free radicals, besides the possible effects in reducing the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases. The objective of this work was to verify the effect of the storage at commercial conditions (-18°C) of frozen fruits pulps (acerola, açaí, blackberry and strawberry) and the effect of the artisan processing on the flavonoids, vitamin C contents and antioxidant activity. Flavonoids and vitamin C contents were determined by HPLC, total phenolics contents through the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the linoleic acid/&#946;-carotene system and by measuring DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity. The results showed that the effect of processing for obtainment of frozen fruits pulps on total phenolics and vitamin C changed according to the fruit analysed. The fruits pulps of strawberry and blackberry showed similar contents to their respective fruits. In acerola, epicarp and seeds separation during the processing increased the vitamin C contents and decreased the flavonoids contents in pulp. In conclusion, the storage of frozen fruits pulps of acerola, açaí, strawberry and blackberry at commercial conditions (-18ºC) during a year, did not affect the flavonoids, vitamin C, phenolics total contents and antioxidant activity.

As frutas deteriorarem-se em poucos dias, tendo sua comercialização in natura dificultada a grandes distâncias. Além disso, estima-se que as perdas pós-colheita variem de 15 a 50% do total. Desta forma, a produção de polpas de frutas congeladas se tornou um meio favorável para o seu aproveitamento integral na época da safra, evitando os problemas ligados à sazonalidade. Os flavonóides e o ácido ascórbico presente em frutas apresentam atividade antioxidante, associada à menor incidência de crônico-degenerativas. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram avaliar o efeito do armazenamento em condições comerciais (-18 ºC) de polpas de frutas (acerola, açaí, amora e morango) e o efeito do processamento artesanal para sua obtenção sobre os teores de flavonóides, vitamina C e atividade antioxidante in vitro. A composição dos flavonóides e os teores de vitamina C foram determinados por CLAE, o teor de fenólicos totais através do método Folin-Ciocalteu, e a atividade antioxidante pelo método de co-oxidação do &#946;-caroteno/ácido linoléico e através do seqüestro de radicais livres do DPPH. Os resultados mostraram que o efeito do processamento para obtenção das polpas de frutas congeladas sobre os teores de compostos fenólicos e vitamina C varia de acordo com o fruto. No caso do morango e da amora, as polpas apresentaram teores similares aos seus respectivos frutos. Já para acerola, a separação do epicarpo e das sementes durante o processo de despolpamento ocasionou um aumento do teor de vitamina C e diminuição do teor de flavonóides na polpa. O armazenamento de polpas congeladas de morango, amora, açaí e acerola em condições comerciais (-18 ºC), por até um ano, não afeta os teores de flavonóides, vitamina C, fenólicos totais e atividade antioxidante. / The fruits become deteriorated in few days, therefore their commercialization is difficult for long distances. Thus, production of frozen fruits pulps become a favorable method for utilization of the integral fruit. The fruits containing flavonoids and ascorbic acid that are bioactive compounds that present antioxidant activity due to their ability of reducing the formation of free radicals, besides the possible effects in reducing the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases. The objective of this work was to verify the effect of the storage at commercial conditions (-18°C) of frozen fruits pulps (acerola, açaí, blackberry and strawberry) and the effect of the artisan processing on the flavonoids, vitamin C contents and antioxidant activity. Flavonoids and vitamin C contents were determined by HPLC, total phenolics contents through the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the linoleic acid/&#946;-carotene system and by measuring DPPH free-radical scavenging capacity. The results showed that the effect of processing for obtainment of frozen fruits pulps on total phenolics and vitamin C changed according to the fruit analysed. The fruits pulps of strawberry and blackberry showed similar contents to their respective fruits. In acerola, epicarp and seeds separation during the processing increased the vitamin C contents and decreased the flavonoids contents in pulp. In conclusion, the storage of frozen fruits pulps of acerola, açaí, strawberry and blackberry at commercial conditions (-18ºC) during a year, did not affect the flavonoids, vitamin C, phenolics total contents and antioxidant activity.

The main aim of my thesis is to create sustainable local food production in Jaroslavice region. This region is situated near the Austria – Czechia border. The political changes of previous century influenced this rural location a lot. Changes resulted in socioeconomic degradation of this area. My project tends to shorten production connections between producers and consumers. It also takes the part with local farmers and farmer´s market. My architecture proposal is a building of regional food center focused on fruit production. The main fruits are apples, apricots and pitches according to the local climate conditions. The center has three main parts – processing, storage and retail.