Brazil plum fruit (Spondias tuberosa) stored under refrigeration with different types of packaging

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of packaging to maintain quality and extending the postharvest life of umbu tree fruits in different storage periods, stored at 14 ° C and 90% UR. The experimental design used was completely randomized, in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, with four evaluation periods (0, 4, 8 and 12 days after storage) and four packaging systems (PET, PET with holes, PVC and LDPE), with four replicates and four fruits per experimental unit. The physical and chemical characteristics were evaluated, such as, objective color of the peel, firmness of the intact fruit, soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH and loss of fresh mass. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and regression, using the SISVAR software program. The characteristics of the quantitative factor (types of packaging) were compared by the Tukey’s test at 5% probability, while for those of the qualitative factor (storage period), the adjustment was made to the regression model. There was a significant interaction between packaging and storage periods only for loss of mass. The luminosity characteristic was significant only for the type of packaging. For the other variables such as chroma, HUE angle, firmness, titratable acidity and pH, there was no significant interaction between the factors tested, having significance only for storage period. For soluble solids, there was no significance for packaging and storage period. The PVC and PET packaging were effective in delaying the loss of mass, and withering of the fruits up to 12 days, which kept under refrigeration at 14°C. It was verified that along the storage time, physical and chemical changes occur in the umbu tree fruits.