Effect of Cassava Starch Coating on the Quality and Shelf Life of Prickly Pear in Refrigerated Storage

In Brazil, the prickly pear has been gaining more and more attention, mainly due to its nutritional health promotion benefits. However, its postharvest conservation is still incipient The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of cassava starch in different concentrations in relation to quality preservation and postharvest shelf life prolongation of prickly pear stored at 10 °C and relative humidity of 95%. Fruit were harvested at maturation stage III, in plants with 8 years of age, in the municipality of Janaúba - MG. Then they were selected, sanitized and immersed in sulutions of cassava starch at 0; 1; 2 and 3% for 1 minute and stored at 10 ± 1 ◦C and relative humidity of 95 ± 5%, for 25 days, and evaluated every five days. The designed trial consisted of a completely randomized trial, in a 4x6 factorial scheme: four concentrations of cassava starch and six periods of evaluations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 days), with four replications. Fruit were evaluated for physical, chemical and nutritional characteristics. During storage were observed weight loss, firmness loss, chlorophyll degradation, acidity reduction and ascorbic acid, with increase of soluble solids, total sugars and carotenoids in fruit. The higher the cassava starch concentration, the greater the maintenance of fruit quality. The 3% cassava starch coating was the most efficient at delaying the weight loss, decay, softening and wilting in the fruits, the main characteristics that affect the quality of prickly pear. However, this concentration presented, as an inconvenience, coating peeling at the end of storage.