Efeitos da irradiação gama na desinfestação, qualidade e conservação de manga cv. Palmer

Abstract

Brazil is one of the main fruit export countries in the world. Since the recent increase of Palmer mangoes orders, there have been more studies about its conservation. Hence, Palmer mangoes were irradiated by different doses of gamma radiation (0, 50, 150, 300, 500, 800 and 1000 Gy) and physical-chemical parameters were evaluated over 21 days at 23 ºC under storage conditions. In another experiment, the mangoes were irradiated and kept under refrigerated storage and the physical-chemical parameters were also assessed during 21 days. In another study, infested mangoes by two species of fruit-flies (Ceratitis capitata and Anastrepha fraterculus) were irradiated with 0 (control), 150 and 300 Gy to evaluate the efficiency of the recommended phytossanitary treatment. The outcomes showed that the doses of 150, 300 and 500 Gy were capable of slowing down the maturity of the mangoes kept at 23°C and the combination between irradiation and refrigeration promoted synergetic fruit's conservation.Furthermore, the doses of 150 and 300 Gy controlled the fruit fly species in mangoes. Therefore, those doses were capable of ensuring phytossanitary security and slowing down the maturity of the fruits, thus extending the storage of the mangoes and consequently promoting a reduction in post-harverst losses. In conclusion, these effects show that irradiation would help to increase the Brazilian performance in the mangoes' exportation business.