VIDA ÚTIL PÓS-COLHEITA DE CINCO HIBRIDOS DE MELÃO AMARELO PRODUZIDOS NO AGROPÓLO MOSSORÓ-ASSU

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to evaluate the shelf-life of five yellow melon hybrids (AF-5107, AF6742, AF-9136, AF and AF-6798-7719) produced in the Mossoró-Assu agropole. The yellow melon hybrids were grown in soil fertilized and irrigated following the demand of culture. Reaching the stage of commercial maturity, fruit were harvested and brought to the Postharvest Laboratory at the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-árido, where were taken12 fruits at random for characterization of each hybrid at time zero. Afterwards the other fruits were weighed, identified and stored in cold room regulated at 10 ± 1 ºC and 90 ± 2% RH, where they remained for 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 and 49 days. At each time interval, the following analyses were realized: mass loss, external and internal appearance, pulp firmness and soluble solids. The experimental design was completely randomized in factorial scheme 5 x 7, five hybrids and seven periods of storage. We used four replications, and the experimental unit consists of three fruits. There was significant interaction between hybrid and storage period only for the soluble solids. For the other characteristics evaluated, we observed the isolated effect of the main factors. The hybrid AF-9136 stood out compared to other hybrids tested by greater pulp firmness and soluble solids.