Quality of Butia capitata fruits harvested at different maturity stages

Abstract

Butia capitata (Mart.) Becc. or “coquinho azedo” is a native palm species of the Brazilian savannah, bears fruits which are sold fresh or as frozen pulp. This study examined postharvest changes in “coquinho azedo” harvested at a commercially immature stage and later evaluated the quality of these fruits by comparing them with those harvested fully ripe. Fruit purchased in the 2020 harvest in Santo Antônio do Retiro, MG (Brazil), were harvested at different degrees of maturity, namely, commercially immature and ripe, according to the point of harvest adopted in the region. For 7 d, weight loss, skin color and respiratory activity were evaluated in the commercially immature-harvested fruits. At 7 d postharvest, physical and chemical evaluations of the pulp were performed. The ripe-harvested fruits were subjected to the same evaluations, but only at 1 d postharvest. The skin color of commercially immature-harvested fruits tended to yellow over the days. Respiration postharvest increased in the immature-harvested fruits. Fresh weight loss exceeded 10% but without compromising appearance. The commercially immature-harvested fruits had 55% more total phenols, whereas the ripe-harvested fruits had higher soluble solids and ascorbic acid contents. Pulp color, soluble solids/titratable acidity ratio and total carotenoid contents were similar regardless of the degree of maturity at harvest. During the days after the harvest of the commercially immature “coquinho azedo”, changes take place which cause them to resemble the fruit harvested ripe. Based on the evaluated traits, the early harvest did not compromise the ripening of the fruits.