Taxa respiratória em frutos de banana injuriados mecanicamente.

Abstract

Respiratory rate in banana fruit mechanical injured were analyzed. Fruits were 43 submitted to the following treatments: non-injured fruit (control), 60cm free fall (three impacts per 44 fruit at the same place on the median region), three longitudinal cuts (70mm long and 2mm deep) on 45 the median region, three longitudinal scratches (50mm long and 2mm wide) on median edges and, 46 compression on the median region for 15 minutes (equivalent force of 42.4 Newton (N)). Fruits were stored for 20 days at 20o47 C (±2ºC) and 60% (±5%) RH. The respiratory rate was evaluated daily. A 48 completely randomized experimental design with 6 replicates was used for physiological evaluations. 49 Fruits from all treatments showed a respiratory peak on the nineteenth day and a decrease in this 50 variable afterwards.