Biometria e qualidade da romã orgânica durante o armazenamento.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the postharvest quality of pomegranate 'Molar', storage in nature under ambient conditions. The fruits were harvested at a commercial property located in the municipality of Sousa-PB and then transported to the Food Analysis Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Pombal-PB. The experiment was conducted in completely randomized design ( CRD) in which treatments were represented by conditions of storage at 0 , 3 , 6 , 9 , 12 , 15 and 18 days at 27 ºC and 28 % RH with four replicates, each replicate consisting five fruits (n = 20), which were analyzed for biometrics, physical-chemical and visual characteristics . The roma 'Molar', produced in an organic system in semiarid Paraiba are classified as sweet, with low acidity, less than 0,75 % citric acid and soluble solid between 12 and 15%. As for size, the pomegranates are classified as small, weighing less than 200g and less than 74 mm in diameter. The storage of fruits at 27 º C, 28 %RH up to six days maintains appropriate biometric, physical-chemical and visual characteristics for the fresh fruit market. The storage of fruits at 27 ºC, 28 %RH for 18 days provides intense dehydration of the skin, but not affect the quality or yield of juice extracted from the arils.