Physicochemical quality of araçaúna and grumixama at different ripening stages

Abstract

The physicochemical characteristics of fruits of species native to the Atlantic Forest are little known, especially during ripening. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of the interaction between ripening period and post-harvest storage of araçaúna and grumixama. Fruits were harvested at three ripening stages: Green, partially ripe and ripe, according to the epicarp color, and separated into two groups, being stored for 2 and 48 hours. The following variables were evaluated: Longitudinal (LD) and cross-sectional (CD) diameter, LD/CD ratio, fresh fruit mass (FM), pulp yield (PY), pH, soluble solids content (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, and ascorbic acid content (AA). Araçaúna fruits stand out due to their high PY (74.43%), with low SS (2.07 ºBrix) and high TA (1.17% citric acid). However, harvesting fully ripe fruits increases SS by 21% and reduces TA by 32.5%. Grumixama fruits are slightly sweet (6.06 ºBrix), with low acidity (0.39% citric acid), high vitamin C content (206.94 mg of ascorbic acid/100g of pulp), and harvest must be performed when fruits are fully ripe. Both species have pulp of potential quality to be commercially exploited, especially for processing.