Do chemical and nutritional compounds change during the storage of Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora)?

Abstract

Jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora) is a native Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest fruit tree. Its fruits are purplish berries with a short shelf life, due to fermentative processes that begin shortly after harvest. Recently, commercial jabuticaba exploitation has intensified, justifying the application of postharvest technologies. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the chemical characteristics and nutraceutical compounds of “ponhema” jabuticabas stored at room and cold temperatures. Chemical analyzes (soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), pH, soluble sugars, soluble pectins and pectinamethylesterase (PME) activity), and nutraceutical compounds (total anthocyanins (TA), yellow flavonoids (YF), total phenolic compounds (TFC)) were performed. A completely randomized experimental design was applied. Analyzes were performed every 2 days, at days 0, 2, 4 for the room temperature (25° C) assay and at days 0, 2, 4 and 6 for the cold temperature (13° C) experiment. Fruits stored under cold temperature presented lower acetaldehyde and ethanol contents, as well as high soluble sugar, total anthocyanin, and total phenolic compound levels. Fruits stored at room temperature displayed marked wilting and fermentation on the fifth day of storage, preventing their consumption after this period. Fruits presented a shelf-life gain of up to two days when stored at cold temperature, displaying better characteristic maintenance, such as soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH and soluble sugars, which were verified by the acetaldehyde and ethanol tests. Total anthocyanin and phenolic compound levels were higher in fruits stored at cold temperature.