APPLICATION OF BIODEGRADABLE FILMS IN GUAVA TO CONTROL FRUIT FLIES1

Abstract

ABSTRACT Psidium guajava L. is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the use of biodegradable coating associated with different temperatures on the quality of 'Paluma' guava fruits infested by Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann on its control. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 6 × 6 factorial scheme with three replicates. The factors under study were three temperatures 10 ºC, 15 ºC, and 23 ºC (room temperature) with six treatments each: Control - WoO WoC (without oviposition and without coating); WiO WoC (with oviposition and without coating); WiO+CCFO (without oviposition and coating containing fennel oil); WiO+CCFO (with oviposition and coating containing fennel oil); WoO+CCBO (without oviposition and coating containing basil oil); WoO+CCBO (with oviposition and coating containing basil oil). The treatments were evaluated in six periods according to the factors already mentioned. Physical, physical-chemical, biochemical and subjective evaluations were performed. Data were submitted to analysis of variance based on the significance of the F test and, in order to test the effect of storage days, the results were submitted to regression analysis. The use of biodegradable coating associated with low temperatures minimizes the loss of mass and promotes less loss of fruit firmness. The presence of C. capitata larvae depreciates the physical-chemical quality of guava fruits, but the coating process associated with low temperatures is lethal to eggs and larvae of C. capitata, reducing damage in fruits infested.