Abstract

BALAGUERA-LOPEZ, Helber E; MARTINEZ-CARDENAS, Claudia A  and  HERRERA-AREVALO, Aníbal. Effect of the maturity stage on the postharvest behavior of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) fruits stored at room temperature. Bioagro [online]. 2016, vol.28, n.2, pp.117-124. ISSN 1316-3361.

Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), a species belonging to the Solanaceae family, has fruits appreciated for their flavor and functional and medicinal properties. Fruit maturity at the time of harvest is one of the most important factors determining the behavior and postharvest quality. In order to determine the effect of maturity stage on postharvest behavior of cape gooseberry, fruits from ecotype Colombia were harvested at four maturity stages, S1 (25 % yellow and 75 % green fruit with green calyx), S2 (50 % yellow and 50 % orange with yellow-green calyx), S3 (100 % orange fruit and 100 % yellow calyx) and S4 (100 % orange dry fruit with brown calyx). Fruits were stored without calyx at room temperature (18 °C and 60 % RH) for 15 days. We found that as maturity increased, the values of ethylene production, weight loss, color index, total soluble solids and maturity ratio were higher, while firmness and titratable acidity were lower. However, fruits harvested at S1 had the lowest postharvest quality, since they showed the largest weight loss, lowest firmness and uneven coloration. Therefore, it is not beneficial to harvest fruits at this maturity state. It is advisable to harvest cape gooseberry fruits at S2 and S3 maturity stages because of the good postharvest behavior they show, while fruits at S4 stage should be harvested for immediate consumption only.

Keywords : Shelf-life; skin color.

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