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Farmers in Nepal lose about a third of their harvested grain due to postharvest handling and storage. This has led to food insecurity and economic losses. Despite the importance of postharvest, the grain storage system in Nepal relies on traditional storage structures like bamboo granaries. The incidence of storage pests is reported up to 100% in these structures. To minimize the storage loss, farmers use different grain protection methods including toxic chemicals. Multiple cases of pesticides-related poisoning and deaths have been caused by misuse and overuse of pesticides. To push safer, chemical-free alternatives like hermetic storage it is important to understand current pest challenges and management practices in Nepal. Adaptation of chemical-free pest management strategies like hermetic storage largely depends upon basic and applied laboratory research findings. Determining the baseline adult mortality under various hypoxia levels and subsequent insect emergence will help determine the effectiveness of a low oxygen environment in controlling <i>Sitophilus oryzae</i> (L.). This would increase our understanding of hermetic storage technology and help improve its application to both farmers and commercial users and serve as a possible substitute to traditional or chemical pest control methods. In chapter one, I report the result of the survey conducted in Nepal to understand i) current post-harvest storage practices and (ii) assessment of the best delivery approach for storage innovations. In chapter 2, I report the result from laboratory experiment conducted to understand the lethality of hypoxia at 5% oxygen level and below against <i>Sitophilus oryzae</i> (L.), which is a major storage pest reported by farmers in Nepal.

Food-borne illness outbreaks are occasionally associated with fresh-vegetable consumption, in part due to lack of a microbial inactivation step before consumption. Raw manure or improperly composted manure applied as soil amendments is an established source of pathogenic bacterial contamination. However, less is known about whether such soil amendments could serve as a source of transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) or antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) via fresh produce. As such knowledge is developing, it is useful to identify strategies for mitigating ARGs and ARB on vegetable surfaces, especially those that are synergistic with known benefits in terms of general pathogen reduction on fresh produce. Sanitizers play an important role in post-harvest processing of vegetables, especially in terms of disinfecting the wash water and preventing cross-contamination. Further, temperature and time of storage of vegetables are critical to prevent the growth of microorganisms. To provide a background inoculum representing potential pre-harvest carryover of ARB and ARGs, carrots or romaine lettuce leaves were dipped in a slurry derived from composted manure from dairy cows previously dosed with antibiotics and further inoculated with multi-drug resistant E. coli O157:H7, a human pathogen, and a spoilage-associated and opportunistic pathogenic strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Inoculated carrots (n=3, 25 g) were washed with water containing different sanitizers (sodium hypochlorite or peroxyacetic acid) or unwashed (control), packaged and stored at 10ºC for 7d or 2ºC for up to 60 d. Inoculated lettuce leaves (n=3, 100 g) were washed with sodium hypochlorite, packaged in modified atmosphere conditions (98% nitrogen), irradiated (1.0 kGy) and subsequently stored at 4ºC for 14 d. The effect of post-harvest treatment were compared at various times by enumeration on selective media. In addition, cultureindependent techniques were also performed to determine changes to the surficial carrot and lettuce microbiota by sequencing bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The effect of post-harvest treatments on the types and relative abundance of ARGs, also known as the “resistome,” were profiled by shotgun metagenomic sequencing and qPCR. Addition of a sanitizer during wash, storage temperature, and duration of storage affected the bacterial community structures on carrots, represented by the weighted Unifrac distance matrices (ANOSIM, R=0.465). Storage of sanitizer-washed carrots at 10ºC was associated with an increase in relative abundance of Pseudomonadaceae compared to 2ºC storage for 7 d (Wilcoxon, p<0.05). Increase in storage temperature from 2ºC (optimum) to 10ºC (temperature abuse) of sanitizer-washed carrots resulted in enrichment of ARGs conferring resistance to the following antibiotic classes: multidrug, peptide, polymyxin, quinolone, triclosan, aminoglycoside, bacitracin, β-lactam, and fosfomycin. Irradiation resulted in significant reductions (~3.5 log CFU/g) of inoculated antibiotic-resistant E. coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas sp. on lettuce surfaces (ANOVA, p<0.05). The lettuce resistome, represented by the Bray-Curtis similarity of ARG occurrence, was affected by irradiation (ANOSIM, R=0.406). Irradiation of lettuce followed by 14 d of storage at 4ºC resulted in 2-4-fold reductions in relative abundance of ARGs encoding resistance to the following antibiotic classes: triclosan, quinolones, multidrug, polymyxin and β-lactam (Wilcoxon, p<0.05). No additional increase or reduction of the tet(A) gene present on inoculated P. aeruginosa was evident after 14d storage at 4ºC on irradiated samples. Results of this study suggest that inclusion of a sanitizer in wash water, irradiation, and storage at optimum refrigerated temperatures may offer effective strategies to combat proliferation of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes on fresh produce. Further research is needed develop interventions that can mitigate tet(A) and other ARGs on produce that were not significantly reduced by irradiation. This study will guide future research on microbiome and metagenome of processed produce and assessment of critical control points to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance from farm-to-fork. / PHD / Post-harvest interventions; such as washing, irradiation and cold storage, are employed to provide safe and wholesome fresh vegetables to consumers. Washing of vegetables in water that includes a sanitizing agent, such as chlorine or peroxyacetic acid (POAA), removes soil from the surface, reduces the bacteria in wash water and prevent cross-contamination between vegetables. It has an additional benefit to reduce microorganisms on produce surfaces that may cause the vegetables to spoil or result in illness in humans. Low temperature storage of produce, usually 0-5ºC, decreases the respiration rate of vegetables and reduces growth of microorganisms during storage. Some of the spoilage and/or pathogenic bacteria may also be antibiotic-resistant, which are commonly termed as antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). Antibiotic resistance is a significant public health concern that leads to ineffective medical treatments, prolonged duration of illnesses and increased hospitalization costs. Antibiotic resistance is encoded by genes that confer resistance to wide range of antibiotic classes, including antibiotics used to treat human illnesses. These genes are termed as antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study we examined the effect of three common post-harvest interventions, washing with sanitizers, gamma irradiation, and cold storage to reduce antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens and antibiotic-resistant spoilage bacteria on carrots and lettuce. Storage temperature, inclusion of sanitizer in wash water, and length of chilled storage significantly influenced the diversity of bacteria found on carrot surface. Inclusion of either sanitizer in the wash water significantly reduced the populations of antibiotic-resistant E. coli O157:H7 (a pathogenic bacterium that causes a dangerous form of gastrointestinal illness) and Pseudomonas sp. (a bacterial species that commonly causes food spoilage). Storage at recommended temperature (2ºC) did not allow these bacteria to regrow and also reduced total ARGs on carrot surfaces. Washing of lettuce with sodium hypochlorite followed by irradiation (1.0 kGy) and storage at recommended temperature (4ºC) were effective in reducing the populations of antibiotic-resistant E. coli O157:H7 and Pseudomonas sp., and additionally reduced the number of some ARGs conferring resistance to select classes of antibiotics, including triclosan, quinolones, multidrug, polymyxin and β-lactam antibiotics on the lettuce surface. A novelty of this research is that it employed new, cutting-edge “metagenomic” DNA sequencing technique to identify and track antibiotic resistance through the various post-harvest interventions. Overall results of this research suggest that inclusion of sanitizer in wash water for fresh produce, followed by storage at refrigerated temperatures below 4ºC may reduce the risk posed by antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes on produce.

The seafood industry is of considerable importance to both the New Zealand and global economies and therefore tissue preservation technologies that increase product quality and/or prolong shelf life have the potential to add significant value. Technologies for maintaining the viability of isolated tissues also have a wide range of other medical and industrial applications. This thesis examines the relationship between metabolic function, oxidation and cell death and the resulting stability of the non-viable tissues during long term storage in chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) red and white skeletal muscle tissue. This research also looks at the role of the aquatic anaesthetic AQUI-S™, in which the active ingredient is isoeugenol (a lipid soluble antioxidant), and other antioxidant compounds in preserving metabolic function in viable tissues and tissue stability in nonviable tissues. Perfusion of salmon tails at 15℃ over 5 or 10 hours with oxygen saturated saline resulted in significant increases in protein and lipid oxidation (protein carbonyl and TBARS concentrations respectively) in the red muscle, but not the white muscle. The introduction of ascorbic acid and uric acid into the saline did not reduce the oxidation in the red muscle despite significantly increasing their respective concentrations in the tissue. This indicates the difficulties associated with attempting to extend tissue viability by delivering free oxygen to the tissue and also highlights the difference in susceptibility of the two muscle types to oxidation. Tail fillets from salmon harvested in both rested and exhausted physiological states using AQUI-S™, and fillets from exhausted salmon harvested without AQUI-S™, were exposed to air at 15℃ for up to 96 hours. Protein carbonyls increased in a roughly linear fashion over the entire 96 hours in all three groups. Both lipid peroxides (TBARS) and uric acid concentrations began to increase in the exhausted group after 30 hours. In contrast, no significant increases in lipid peroxides or uric acid was seen in the fillets from either group harvested using AQUI-S™. Vitamin E concentrations reduced slowly but did not change significantly despite the oxidation that was evident in the tissue. These processes also occurred in salmon tail fillets during storage at 6℃. The measurement of ATP related compounds provides an effective indicator of both the metabolic state of the tissue post-harvest and the quality. The breakdown of these compounds is also associated with the production of ammonia and hydrogen peroxide. Fresh rested salmon fillets had high concentrations of ATP and creatine phosphate, which were both depleted after 12 hours storage at 15℃. This indicates that cell viability lasted a number of hours following harvesting. These metabolites were depleted in exhausted fillets and metabolic potential appeared to be immediately compromised. The concentration of the taste enhancing compound IMP was significantly reduced in fresh rested tissue, but increased during storage, and was significantly higher than in exhausted tissues following 12 hours of storage at 15℃. This indicates that some properties of rested tissues may improve with limited storage times. The accumulation of uric acid - the metabolic end point for ATP related compounds - was also significantly reduced in rested tissue and increases in K-value were slowed. AQUI-S™ showed an ability to preserve tissue function through its anaesthetic action allowing tissue to be harvested in a rested state, and to reduce late stage lipid oxidation in stored salmon tail fillets. The antioxidant action of isoeugenol in salmon fillets may be mediated through its ability to chelate transition metals released during tissue degradation. This research shows that during reperfusion and during fillet storage there is a significant level of oxidative stress, which needs to be minimized while maintaining basic tissue metabolism to prolong tissue and cellular viability. The development of future technologies to preserve tissue viability may depend on the development of a synthetic oxygen carrying compound with properties similar to red blood cells. This may allow more control over oxygen delivery, potentially reducing the oxidative stress associated with high concentrations of free oxygen in solution. However, preserving cell viability will also require the maintenance of endogenous antioxidant function and there is also the potential to use iron chelating compounds including plant derived flavonoids to preserve non-viable tissues. Future research in these areas is necessary.

A redução das perdas é de grande importância para estabilizar a oferta de alimentos ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos e fortalecer a segurança alimentar. O objetivo geral desta pesquisa foi realizar um diagnóstico detalhado sobre as perdas que ocorrem nas diversas atividades logísticas de soja e milho no Brasil, envolvendo a quantificação das perdas físicas, econômicas e ambientais acumuladas na cadeia de suprimentos de tais grãos e a identificação de estratégias e políticas públicas para mitiga-las, através da modelagem de programação matemática. Além disso, foi possível estruturar uma função de perdas na agrologística de grãos a partir de quatro variáveis: tipo de armazenagem, qualidade das vias rodoviárias, modalidade de transporte e canal de comercialização. As perdas totais na cadeia de suprimentos de soja e milho no ano de 2015 no Brasil atingiram o patamar de 2,381 milhões de toneladas, ou seja, algo em torno de 1,303% da produção, incorrendo em perdas econômicas decorrentes do custo de oportunidade com vendas perdidas e de gastos logísticos desnecessários na ordem de R$ 2,04 bilhões (US$ 610,78 milhões). Os cenários avaliados demonstram que a ampliação no uso da armazenagem dentro da fazenda, melhoria nas condições das rodovias brasileiras e das estradas que conectam as fazendas aos armazéns apresentam grande potencial para mitigação das perdas. Apesar da perda relativa de uma atividade logística assumir valor decimal, a perda acumulada ao longo da cadeia de suprimentos assume um valor global bastante considerável. Esse retrato enfatiza a necessidade de conscientização sobre as perdas visando fomentar políticas públicas e gestões eficientes para mitiga-las, dado as externalidades econômicas, ambientais e sociais geradas. / Reducing losses is of great importance in stabilizing the supply of food throughout the supply chain and strengthening food security. The general objective of this research was to perform a detailed diagnosis of the losses that occur in the many logistic activities of soybeans and maize in Brazil, involving the quantification of accumulated physical, economic and environmental losses in the supply chain of such grains and the identification of strategies and public policies to mitigate such losses through mathematical programming modeling. Besides, it was possible to structure a loss function of grains\' agrologistics in terms of four variables: type of storage, quality of roads, modality of transportation and marketing channel. Total losses in the soy and maize supply chain in 2015 in Brazil reached up to 2.381 million tons, or about 1.303% of production, incurring economic reductions due to the cost of loss (reduced sales and unnecessary logistical expenses for the handling of losses) in the order of R$ 2.04 billion (US$ 610.78 million). The evaluated scenarios show that the increase in the use of on-farm storage, the improvement in the conditions of the Brazilian highways and roads that connect the farms to the external warehouses present great potential to mitigate the losses. In spite the relative loss of a logistic activity takes on decimal value, the cumulative loss along the supply chain assumes a fairly considerable overall value. This reality emphasizes the need to raise awareness about losses in order to foster public policies and efficient management to mitigate them, given the created economic, environmental and social externalities.

Este trabalho teve como principais objetivos verificar as alterações na atividade de enzimas amilolíticas, pectinolíticas e celulásicas em raízes de mandioquinha-salsa durante o período pós-colheita, sob diferentes condições de armazenamento, visando avaliar os mecanismos de deterioração das raízes, bem como identificar o microrganismo possivelmente responsável pela alta perecibilidade das raízes. Além disso, foram estudadas características físico-químicas e reológicas do amido de mandioquinha extraído em laboratório. Para a detecção de atividade pectinesterásica (PE) e poligalacturonásica (PG) nas raízes, os parâmetros de extração destas enzimas foram otimizados através de metodologia de superfície de resposta (MSR). As enzimas apresentaram pH ótimo de extração de 7,5 e 4,0 para a PE e PG, respectivamente, sendo os outros parâmetros, como tempo de extração e concentração de NaCI, considerados como não-significativos pelo modelo. As enzimas pectinolíticas parecem estar relacionadas à deterioração das raízes durante o armazenamento, associadas ao amolecimento das raízes. Devido à alta produção de gás, sob condições de temperatura e embalagem, a presença de bactérias produtoras de enzimas pécticas e causadoras de podridão-mole pode ser uma das principais causas da alta perecibilidade das raízes. A atividade amilolítica apresenta um importante papel na deterioração da mandioquinha uma vez os açúcares redutores provenientes da hidrólise do amido podem vir a ser substrato para o ataque de microrganismos oportunistas. Representa um dos principais aspectos metabólicos em um tubérculo rico em amido. A atividade celulásica foi praticamente nula durante o armazenamento. A melhor forma de conservação das raízes ocorreu à temperatura de refrigeração, sob acondicionamento a vácuo. O microrganismo isolado das raízes foi identificado através de provas bioquímicas como Erwinia carotovora subsp. odorífera. Em relação às características físico-químicas, o amido de mandioquinha apresentou um teor de amilose abaixo dos valores determinados para cereais e raízes convencionais (12,1 %) e uma boa estabilidade durante a cocção, analisada através da determinação de viscosidade. A turbidez das suspensões de amido também apresentou estabilidade durante o armazenamento, assim como a sinerese, que.em condições ótimas de preparação do gel apresentou 2,53 % de expulsão de água. Ainda sobre a relação água/gel, o pH da solução e a concentração de amido influenciam significativamente a capacidade de retenção de água, enquanto a temperatura de formação do gel não se mostrou um parâmetro significativo. A textura das preparações de amido foi influenciada significativamente pela temperatura de formação do gel e pela concentração de amido utilizada na preparação. O conhecimento de algumas características reológicas e de propriedades físico-químicas do amido de mandioquinha, visando a aplicação como ingrediente alimentício, pode ser uma alternativa a utilização das raízes in natura, principalmente no que diz respeito ao excedente de safra e ao aproveitamento de raízes com baixo valor comercial. / The aim of this work was to verify the changes in amylolytic, pectinolytic and cellulasic activity in Peruvian carrot roots after harvest, under different storage conditions, in order to evaluate the deteriorative mechanisms of the roots, as well as to identify the microorganism possible responsible to its low conservation time. In addition, physico-chemical and rheological characteristics of Peruvian carrot starch were studied. For pectinesterase (PE) and poligalacturonase (PG) detection on the roots, the extraction parameters of both enzymes were optimized by response surface methodology. The enzymes presented the optimum pH values at 7.5 and 4.0 for PE and PG, respectively. Extraction time and NaCI concentration were considered non-significant by the model. Pectic enzymes seams to be related to the deterioration process of Peruvian carrot, that is associated to the root softening. Considering the high volume of gas under specific packing and temperature, the presence of microorganisms soft rot promoters could be the main cause of the high perecibility of the roots. The amylolytic enzymes present an important role on Peruvian carrot deterioration related to the starch hydrolysis and the releasing of reducing sugars, substrate for opportunistic microorganisms. The cellulasic activity was not significant during storage time. Best conditions for roots conservation occurred at 4&#176;C and under vacuum package. The bacteria isolated from the roots were identified by biochemical reactions as Erwinia carotovora subsp. odorifera. Peruvian carrot starch presented low values of amylose content (12.1 %) in comparison to other starch sources and a good stability during cooking, analyzed by viscoamylogram Brabender. The turbidity of starch suspensions presented good stability during storage, as well as water holding capacity, which presented 2.53% in optimal conditions of gel preparation. Syneresis is positively influenced by the pH of past solution and starch concentration whereas temperature of gel formation was not significant. Texture of starch preparations was significant influenced by temperature of gel formation as well as starch concentration. The knowledge of some rheological and physico-chemical properties of Peruvian carrot starch can be useful focusing its use as a food ingredient, which can be an alternative to the consumption of the roots in nature, especially considering crop excesses and low commercial value roots.

Embora o Brasil seja o maior produtor e exportador mundial da lima ácida Tahiti, atualmente, exporta apenas 5% do total produzido. Isso se deve, parcialmente, à falta de qualidade destas limas, caracterizada pela perda da coloração verde da casca, após a colheita. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da atmosfera modificada, do ácido giberélico (GA) e do permanganato de potássio, isolados e combinados entre si, na conservação da cor verde da casca de limas Tahiti, beneficiadas com cera, fungicida e refrigeradas. Para isso, foram realizados três experimentos. No primeiro, avaliou-se o efeito da atmosfera modificada com os filmes: PEBD (30 µm); PEBD (65 µm); Vegetal Pack (18 µm); Cryovac D-955 (15 µm) e Xtend (18 µm). No segundo, avaliou-se o efeito de duas doses de GA (20 e 100 mg L-1) isoladas ou em combinação com dois filmes plásticos selecionados no experimento 1. No terceiro, avaliou-se o efeito do permanganato de potássio isolado e em combinação com GA e filme plástico selecionado no experimento 2. Nos três experimentos foram realizadas avaliações físico-químicas e de composição gasosa no interior das embalagens durante 24 dias a 10 ± 1ºC, mais 6 dias a 20 ± 1ºC e 75 ± 5% de umidade relativa. No final do primeiro experimento, os filmes Vegetal Pack e Cryovac D-955 foram selecionados, pois não promoveram formação de altos teores de aceltaldeído e etanol e possibilitaram baixa perda de massa fresca. Houve maior conservação da coloração da casca nos frutos sob os filmes PEBD, porém, estes resultaram em modificação drástica da atmosfera, com alterações de aroma, coloração da polpa e alta incidência de podridões. No segundo experimento, a dose de 20 mg L-1 de GA foi suficiente para conservar a cor da casca por mais tempo que os frutos sem GA. Os filmes Vegetal Pack e Cryovac D-955 resultaram em frutos com maior ângulo de cor e menor croma que aqueles sem filme plástico. O filme Cryovac D-955 foi selecionado por ser termoencolhível e facilitar o processo de embalagem no packing house. No terceiro experimento, o permanganato de potássio reduziu os teores de etileno no interior das embalagens. A combinação do sache com filme plástico resultou em maiores teores de clorofila e frutos de coloração mais verde. O filme Cryovac D-955 conservou os frutos com 4% a mais de peso, com ângulo de cor maior, luminosidade menor e maior teor de clorofila que os frutos sem embalagem. Os teores de ácido ascórbico e de sólidos solúveis não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos em nenhum dos experimentos. Os frutos acondicionados nos filmes PEBD, no primeiro experimento, resultaram em menores teores de ácido cítrico, devido à alteração drástica da atmosfera interna. Em conclusão, o uso do filme Cryovac D-955 é eficiente na conservação da coloração verde das limas Tahiti beneficiadas com cera, fungicida e refrigeradas. Absorvedores de etileno incrementam a conservação destas limas quando combinados com filme plástico. O ácido giberélico só é efetivo na conservação da coloração verde de limas quando aplicado em frutos verde-oliva brilhante. / Although Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of \'Tahiti\' lime, actually, exports only 5% of total production. This is, in part, because of a lack of quality of these limes, characterized by loss of green skin colour after harvest. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the efficiency of modified atmosphere, gibberellic acid (GA) and potassium permanganate, alone and combined with each, in the maintenance of green skin \'Tahiti\' limes, processed with wax, fungicide and cold storage. For this, three experiments were carried out. At first, the effect of modified atmosphere was evaluated with the films: LDPE (30 µm), LDPE (65 µm), Vegetable Pack (18 µm), Cryovac D-955 (15 µm) and Xtend (18 µm). In the second, the effect of two doses of GA (20 and 100 mg L-1) alone and combined with two plastic films, selected in experiment 1, was assessed. In the third, the effect of potassium permanganate alone and combined with GA and plastic film, selected in experiment 2, was evaluated. In three experiments, the physico-chemical analysis and the gas composition inside the package for 24 days at 10 ± 1ºC, 6 days at 20 ± 1ºC and 75 ± 5% relative humidity were performed. At the end of the first experiment, the films Vegetable Pack and Cryovac D-955 were selected, because it didnt promote the formation of high levels of ethanol and acetaldehyde and promoted low weight loss. There was greater retention of skin color in the fruits under the LDPE films, but these resulted in drastic modification of the atmosphere, with changes in flavor, the pulp colour and high decay incidence. In the second experiment, the dose of 20 mg L-1 GA was enough to keep the skin colour longer than the fruits without GA. Films Vegetable Pack and Cryovac D-955 resulted in fruit with greater hue angle and lower chroma than fruits without film. The film Cryovac D-955 was selected because it is shrinkable and facilitate the packing process in the packing house. In the third experiment, the potassium permanganate reduced ethylene levels inside the package. The combination of the sachet with plastic film resulted in higher levels of chlorophyll and fruits with a greener. The film Cryovac D-955 retained the fruits with 4% more weight, with greater hue angle, brightness lower and higher chlorophyll content than the fruits without packaging. The levels of ascorbic acid and soluble solids were not affected by treatments in either experiment. Fruits packed in LDPE films, in the first experiment, resulted in lower levels of citric acid, because of the drastic change of the internal atmosphere. In conclusion, the use of film Cryovac D-955 is effective in preserving the green colour of the \'Tahiti\' limes treated with wax, fungicide and storage. Ethylene absorbers enhance the preservation of limes when combined with plastic film. The gibberellic acid is effective in preserving the green colour of limes when applied to fruit with olive brilliant colour.

O mamão é um fruto climatérico, cujas transformações resultantes do amadurecimento ocorrem rapidamente após a colheita. O tratamento com 1- metilciclopropeno (1-MCP) tem sido testado para ampliar sua vida útil, entretanto, com resultados até então pouco consistentes. Pesquisas com peras, bananas e ameixas foram realizadas utilizando conjuntamente 1-MCP e etileno, com resultados relevantes. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a fisiologia e a conservação pós-colheita do mamão Golden, submetido a diferentes combinações de 1-MCP e etileno, aplicados simultaneamente. Os frutos foram colhidos em pomares comerciais no estádio 1 de maturação, tratados e armazenados em câmaras frias a 11 e a 22ºC. O projeto foi dividido em três etapas. Na primeira etapa, observou-se que doses de 100 e 200 nL.L-1 de etileno combinados com iguais concentrações de 1-MCP, apresentaram resultados semelhantes aos do 1-MCP aplicado isoladamente. Na segunda etapa, o etileno nas concentrações entre 0 e 10 SL.L-1 foi combinado com 100 nL.L-1 de 1-MCP. Esse aumento na concentração de etileno diminuiu ou até mesmo anulou a ação do 1-MCP, nas concentrações mais elevadas. A mudança de cor e a perda da firmeza foram mais lentas nos tratamentos com 1-MCP na dose de 100 nL.L-1, aplicado sozinho ou associado a menor dose de etileno (2,5 SL.L-1). Estes mesmos tratamentos apresentaram atividade respiratória e produção de etileno menores que o controle. Na terceira etapa, os frutos tratados apenas com 1-MCP e 1-MCP mais etileno nas doses de 1 e 2,5 SL.L-1, mostraram maior retenção da firmeza externa, firmeza interna e cor da casca. A aparência também foi melhor nestes tratamentos, com menor porcentagem de frutos podres. O teor de sólidos solúveis foi semelhante em todos os tratamentos e o de ácido ascórbico foi mais elevado nos frutos tratados apenas com 1-MCP. A produção de etileno e a concentração de etileno endógeno foram maiores nos frutos que receberam apenas 1-MCP. A atividade respiratória e a concentração de CO2 endógeno mostraram pouca variação entre os tratamentos, durante o armazenamento. O teor de carotenóides foi menor nos tratamentos que receberam as maiores doses de etileno. O teor de clorofila foi maior no tratamento que recebeu apenas 1-MCP o qual levou mais tempo para tornar-se amarelo. A atividade da enzima pectinametilesterase (PME) foi menor nos tratamentos com 1-MCP e 1-MCP mais etileno na dose de 1 SL.L-1. A atividade das enzimas 1-aminociclopropano-1- carboxílico sintase (ACS) e oxidase (ACO) alternaram períodos de elevada e de baixa atividade em todos os tratamentos, durante o armazenamento. A aplicação simultânea de 1-MCP e do etileno mostrou resultados promissores no controle do amadurecimento do mamão Golden. / Papaya is a climacteric fruit which ripening resulting transformations occur rapidly after harvest. Treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) has been tested to extend its shelf life, however, with inconsistent results so far. Researches with pears, bananas and plums were carried out using 1-MCP and ethylene with relevant results. Therefore, the aim was to study the physiology and postharvest storage of \'Golden\' papaya subjected to different combinations of 1-MCP and ethylene applied in the same time. The fruits were harvested from commercial orchards in stage 1 of ripening, they were treated and stored in cold chambers. The study was divided into three stages. In the first step it was observed that doses of 100 and 200 nL.L-1 of ethylene combined with equal concentrations of 1-MCP showed similar results to the 1-MCP applied alone. In the second step, ethylene concentrations between 0 and 10 L.L-1 were combined with 100 nL.L-1 of 1-MCP. This increase in ethylene concentrations, decreased or even nullified the action of 1-MCP. The change in color and the firmness loss were slower in the treatments using 100 nL.L-1 of 1-MCP applied alone or associated with a lower dose (2.5 L.L-1) of ethylene. These same treatments showed less respiratory activity and ethylene production than the control. In the third step, the fruits treated only with 1-MCP and 1-MCP more ethylene at the doses of 1 and 2.5 L.L-1, showed higher retention of external and internal firmness and the green color of peel. The appearance was also better in these treatments, with a lower percentage of rotten fruit. The soluble solids content was similar for all treatments and the ascorbic acid was higher in the fruits treated only with 1-MCP. The ethylene production and endogenous ethylene concentration was higher in fruits treated only with 1-MCP. Respiratory activity and endogenous CO2 concentration showed few variation among the treatments during the storage. The carotenoid content was lower in the treatments that received the highest doses of ethylene. The chlorophyll content was higher in treatments with only 1-MCP, which took longer to become yellow. The pectinmethylesterase (PME) enzyme activity was lower in treatments only with 1-MCP and 1-MCP more ethylene at a dose of 1 L.L-1. The 1- aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) and oxidase (ACO) enzyme activity, alternate periods of high and low activity in all treatments during storage. Simultaneous application of 1-MCP and ethylene showed promising results in the ripening of papaya \'Golden\'.

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a potencialidade dos revestimentos comestíveis à base de Fécula de mandioca e pectina com e sem adição de óleo de buriti para aplicação em melancia e melão minimamente processados, visando a extensão da vida de prateleira destes produtos. A qualidade do óleo de buriti adicionado aos revestimentos comestíveis foi comprovada através do parâmetros físico-químicos; densidade: 1021 kgm-3; índice de acidez: 1,59 % em ácido oleico; índice de peróxido: 6,20 meqKg-1 e viscosidade cinemática: 41,3 mm²s-1. A caracterização dos principais ácidos graxos presentes no óleo de buriti foi realizada por métodos espectroscópicos de Ressonância Magnética Nuclear de Prótons (1H-RMN) e Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier (FTIR). O ácido oleico (78%) foi o componente majoritário na composição do óleo de buriti. Os revestimentos comestíveis foram elaborados com 3% de fécula de mandioca ou 3% de pectina, 1% de glicerol ou 1% óleo de buriti, 2,5% de gelatina, 0,5% de ácido cítrico e 0,5% ácido ascórbico, os frutos minimamente processados foram revestidos utilizando a técnica de imersão. Os frutos revestidos foram analisados em relação ao pH, sólidos solúveis totais, acidez titulável e contagem microbiana ao longo de 10 dias de armazenamento. Os pH dos frutos revestidos variaram entre 5,35-5,76 para o melão e (4,52-5,49) para a melancia ao longo do tempo de armazenamento. Os teores de sólidos solúveis totais da melancia (7,6-9,6 °Brix) e do melão (7,2-8,6 °Brix) minimamente processados se mantiveram constantes para todos os revestimentos testados. A acidez titulável da melancia e do melão variou de 0,11 à 0,20 % e de 0,06 a 0,14 % em ácido cítrico, respectivamente. Os revestimentos comestíveis apresentaram eficiente barreira para permeabilidade de vapor, sendo que película à base de fécula proporcionou menor média de perda de massa da melancia (2,32%) e o revestimento fécula/óleo para o melão (3,39%). A população microbiana aeróbica e mesófila foi crescente ao longo do período de armazenamento em todos os revestimentos e no controle em ambos os frutos. Ao final dos 10 dias de armazenamento, a melancia apresentou crescimento de bactérias cerca de 9,0 log UFCmL-1, sendo o mesmo valor na população de bolores e leveduras. Os revestimentos fécula e pectina/óleo proporcionaram menor população de bactérias, aproximadamente 7,8 log UFCmL-1. O melão apresentou maiores valores de população de bactérias em comparação com a melancia no revestimento fécula e controle; 10,1 e 9,7 log UFCmL-1, v respectivamente. A contagem de bolores e leveduras também foi maior nos revestimentos fécula e fécula/óleo, aproximadamente 9,0 log UFCmL-1. Conclui-se que o óleo de buriti neste trabalho não apresentou atividade antimicrobiana nos revestimentos comestíveis presentes nos frutos. Os revestimentos comestíveis fécula e pectina proporcionaram à melancia condições adequadas para o consumo até o oitavo dia após o processamento. Entretanto no melão, apenas o revestimento pectina e pectina/óleo garantiram estabilidade microbiológica ao consumo até o quarto dia de armazenamento. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential of cassava starch and pectin-based edible coatings with and without addition of buriti oil for application in minimally processed watermelon and melon, aiming to extend the shelf life of these products. The quality of the buriti oil added to the edible coatings was confirmed by physicochemical parameters; Density: 1021 kgm-3; Acidity index in oleic acid: 1.59%; Peroxide index: 6.20 meqKg-1 and kinematic viscosity: 41.3 mm²s-1. The characterization of the main fatty acids present in the buriti oil was performed by spectroscopic methods of Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Oleic acid (78%) had the major percent composition in the buriti oil. The edible coatings were prepared with the concentration of 3% cassava starch or 3% pectin, 1% glycerol or 1% buriti oil, 2.5% gelatin, 0.5% citric acid and 0.5% ascorbic acid, the minimally processed fruits were coated using the immersion technique. The coated fruits were analyzed for pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity and microbial counts over 10 days of storage. The pH of the coated fruits varied between 5.35 and 5.76 for melon and 4.52 and 5.49 for watermelon over the storage time, respectively. The total soluble solids contents of minimally processed watermelon (7.6-9.6 ° Brix) and melon (7.2-8.63 ° Brix) remained constant for all evaluated coatings. The titratable acidity of watermelon and melon ranged from 0.11 to 0.20% and from 0.06 to 0.14% in citric acid. The edible coatings presented an efficient barrier for vapor permeability, being the starch-based film provided a lower average loss of watermelon mass (2.32%) and starch/oil coating for melon (3.39%). The aerobic and mesophilic microbial population was increasing over the storage period in all coatings and control in both fruits. At the end of the 10 days of storage, the watermelon had a bacterial growth of about 9 log UFCmL-1, the same value for mold and yeast population. The starch and pectin/oil coatings provided a lower bacterial population of approximately 7.8 log UFCmL-1. The melon presented higher values of bacterial population in comparison with the watermelon in the starch and control coating; 10.15 and 9.7 log UFCmL-1, respectively. The mold and yeast counts were also higher in the starch and oil coatings, approximately 9 log UFCmL-1. It is concluded that the buriti oil in this work didn’t present antimicrobial activity in the edible coatings present in the fruits. The edible coatings starch and pectin provided the watermelon suitable conditions for consumption until the eighth day after processing. However, for the melon, only pectin and pectin/oil coating ensured microbiological stability for consumption up to the fourth day of storage.

O elevado índice de perdas pós-colheita que ocorre no Brasil impede que 20 a 30 % das hortaliças e frutas produzidas e que saem do campo cheguem ao consumidor final. Embalagens adequadas para a comercialização podem contribuir para reduzir essas perdas. Buscou-se neste trabalho dimensionar embalagens para comercialização das principais espécies de hortaliças e frutas comercializadas no Brasil, considerandose a proteção da carga, quanto a danos mecânicos, o atendimento à legislação brasileira, a adequação de logística e o atendimento a critérios ergonômicos para proteger a saúde do operador. Calculou-se a altura potencial de embalagens para as principais hortaliças e frutas de formato arredondado, em sua maioria. A definição da altura baseou-se na compressão que cada produto pode suportar sem que ocorram danos mecânicos, altura esta estimada a partir de medidas efetuadas com a técnica de aplanação. Depois foi calculada a altura para embalagens de hortaliças folhosas com metodologia apropriada ao formato e comercialização em maços ou planta inteira. A mesma metodologia foi usada para pimentão, hortaliça igualmente deformável devido à proeminência do vazio de sua cavidade locular. O cálculo da altura máxima potencial foi a primeira dimensão das embalagens. Para a definição do comprimento e largura consideraram-se a legislação brasileira, com medidas externas paletizáveis e a otimização de frete e transporte, com conteúdos de produto preferencialmente entre 15 e 20 kg. A determinação da densidade aparente de cada uma das frutas ou hortaliças nas embalagens foi necessária para este dimensionamento. Houve desenvolvimento de metodologias específicas para alcançar o objetivo proposto, como os métodos para determinação das alturas potenciais de embalagens para frutas e hortaliças arredondadas e para hortaliças folhosas, e da balança hidrostática acoplada à embalagem, que permite medir a pressão a que os frutos ficam sujeitos com o fechamento da caixa. Além de métodos e conhecimentos biomecânicos, foram propostos novos modelos de embalagens para comercialização de hortaliças e frutas, gerando uma família de caixas constituída de tamanhos. Estes modelos possuem medidas externas de 50 cm de comprimento, 30 ou 60 cm de largura e 17,5; 23 ou 35 cm de altura. Este número reduzido de modelos é valioso para as necessidades logísticas de embalagens que se encaixem entre si, e para facilitar a composição de páletes mistos, muito freqüentes na comercialização de frutas e hortaliças no Brasil e em outros países. / Fruits and vegetables post-harvest losses levels of 20 to 30% occur in Brazil. Correct packages for fruits and vegetables commercialization can contribute to reduce these losses. The purpose of this work was to dimension packages for the main fruits and vegetables commercialized in Brazil, considering mechanical injuries protection, Brazilian package horticultural laws, logistic and worker health constraints. Initially, there were obtained the maximum allowable pile height for several horticultural products, using the flattening method and the firmometer to measure the organ turgor dependent firmness. After that, it was defined the commercialization leafy vegetables package height based on compression, with another methodology. Considering Brazilian laws, worker health constraints and transport optimization, packages have the lenght and width defined to accommodate 15 to 20 kg of product each ones. Apparent density determination for each fruit or vegetable was necessary for this dimensioning. Besides new methodology and biomechanical knowledge, it was proposed the dimensioning of new packages for the main fruits and vegetables commercialized in Brazil, a package family, with four different sizes. These models have external measures of 50 cm lenght, width 30 or 60 cm, and height 17.5, 23 or 35 cm. The reduced number of different packages is important for logistics purposes, in order the boxes can be used in homogeneous mixed pallets, which are common in fruits and vegetables commercialization retailers in Brazil and other countries.