O estádio de desenvolvimento na qualidade pós-colheita de cladódios da palma opuntia stricta (haw.) Haw.

Abstract

The developmental stage of the cladode of the cactus Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw influences the morphological and physiological characteristics of the cactus, mainly in respiration, which is a postharvest quality characteristic that can influence the physicochemical attributes of the cactus. The objective was to analyze the physicochemical quality of cladodes of the cactus Mexican Elephant Ear Opuntia stricta (Haw.) Haw at five stages of development. The cladodes were collected in the development stages with sizes (0 to 4; 4 to 8; 8 to 12; 12 to 16; and, 16 to 20 cm), and selected for the analysis of longitudinal and transversal diameters, format index, fresh mass, soluble solids, pH, H+

ions, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and respiration. Longitudinal diameter, fresh mass, H+ ions, titratable acidity and ascorbic acid were higher in size 20 cladodes, while the SS/AT ratio and respiration were lower. Breathing was significantly correlated with at least seven of the dose variables studied. Principal component analysis showed that the first two principal components (longitudinal and transverse diameter) accumulated almost 76% of the total variance of the physicochemical parameters in the cladodes. The cladodes of O. stricta showed higher fresh mass yield and lower respiratory rate, whereas those from early stages a showed greater palatability than those from the final stages.