Alterações nas características físicas e bioquímicas de frutos de Cordia superba durante a maturação

Abstract

The white aloe (Cordia superba) is a fruit found in Brazil and has a rounded shape, and when the fruit is ripe, it has a white color, sweet flavor and gelatinous appearance. This study aimed to evaluate changes in color, firmness and respiratory rate of white aloe cultivated in Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, during ripening of green, intermediate and ripe fruits, in order to better understand the change in these parameters in the process. of ripening. The fruits were harvested and separated into three different stages, according to the surface color. Afterwards, the fruits were submitted to analysis of color, firmness and respiratory rate evaluation. With the advancement of the maturation stages, it was possible to observe the degradation of chlorophyll to antoxanthin. A reduction in firmness and a reduction in the respiratory rate over time were also observed. Thus, it was observed that due to these changes, the fruits of white aloe are considered non-climacteric fruits.