Alterações fisiológicas e histológicas durante o desenvolvimento, maturação e armazenamento refrigerado do sapoti (Manilkara zapota L. Von Royen)

Abstract

Sapodilla tree is one of many exotic especies with great agronomic potential. This especies is very well aclimatized to the Northeastern region of Brazil and has fruits known for their flavour and sweet taste. These organoleptic charcteristics, makes sapodilla so interesting for commercial exploitation. The necessity for a further understanding of the metabolic changes that occur during the development of sapodilla, has helped us stablish the objectives of this work. Initially, the biochemical, physical and histological changes that happen through the development of sapodilla were studied, to identify maturity indexes. Then, fruits were stored under modified atmosphere and refrigeration to determine their postharvest life, under these conditions. Sapodilla has a sigmoid growth pattern and they reach their maximum weight after six months of development (127,0 g). Six months olds fruits were completely ripe on the 8th day after harvest and showed a typical climateric respiratory pattern. The histological studies showed a disorganized tissue and the disassembly of the cell walls, explaining the loss in firmness observed in ripe fruits. Postharvest storage, for a 14 day period, in cool chamber at 5 or 12 °C with modification of atmosphere results in fruits with good quality that ripened after 3 to 6 days at ambient conditions.