Yellow passion fruit postharvest conservation and quality according to organic and mineral fertilizers

Abstract

Yellow passion fruit are highly perishable after harvest. Organic products may have better nutritional quality and better postharvest conservation due to the application of different cultural practices such as organic fertilization and non-use of synthetic pesticides. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic fertilization on the quality and postharvest conservation of yellow passion fruit. The orchard was installed in a completely randomized design with four replications and four plants on the same row per experimental unit. The treatments were three types of fertilization applied in the orchard: mineral (MIN) recommended for the crop; organic (ORG), equivalent to the recommended potassium fertilization for the crop and 2 × ORG with twice the ORG dose. The organic fertilizer used was partially cured cattle manure. The mineral and organic fertilizers were applied superficially. During the harvest, the fruits were classified according to mass, type A (above 175 g), B (between 125 and 175 g) and C (below 125 g). The experiment was developed in a completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme (fertilization x fruit mass classes), with six replications and 90 fruits per treatment. Fruits of plants fertilized with 2 × ORG showed the same pulp yield (PY) of those that received MIN fertilization. Fruits of class C and fruits from plants fertilized with MIN showed greater weight loss. No difference between fertilization and mass classes was found for soluble solids (SS) and titratable acidity (TA). There was also no effect of fertilization on the SS / AT ratio, pH and vitamin C content, however, class B fruits showed, on average, higher values for these pulp aspects. The dose of ORG fertilizer was not enough to keep the fruit quality in relation to the PY, but the fruits from plants fertilized with ORG and 2 × ORG kept up with better commercial quality for a longer period. The organic fertilizer with cattle manure is an efficient alternative to maintaining postharvest conservation of yellow passion fruit.