POSTHARVEST OF IRRADIATED TAHITI LIME FRUITS

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the postharvest quality evolution of gamma-irradiated ‘Tahiti’ limes. Shiny, olivegreen fruits with coarse skin (56 cm equatorial diameter) harvested in commercial orchars and processed in commercial packing house line were used. In a preliminary assay, fruits harvested in April 2011 were exposed to a gamma radiation range from 0 to 750 Gy. The 250 and 750 Gy doses negatively affected skin quality and pulp of exposed fruits. For this reason, new assays were carried out using lower doses to irradiate fruits harvested in July 2011 (off-season) and January 2012 (regular harvest period). Fruit harvested in both periods were selected and exposed to radiation doses of 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 Gy. All irradiations occurred at a rate of 0.46 Gy/h. After fruit irradiation, physical and chemical analyses were performed along a 20-day storage period at room temperature (24 ± 1ºC and 80 ± 5% RH). Irradiation of fruits harvested in July 2011 and January 2012 and treated with doses of up to 200 Gy did not affect the ascorbic acid content, but doses > 100 Gy caused skin yellowing of fruits harvested on both periods. Gamma radiation at doses = 50 Gy reduced the total soluble solids content in off-season fruits. Exposure of fruits harvested in the main harvest period to radiation doses = 150 Gy increased weight loss. Irradiation of ‘Tahiti’ limes at doses between 50 Gy and 700 Gy did not preserve postharvest quality during storage at room temperature.