INFLUÊNCIA DOS REVESTIMENTOS COMESTÍVEIS NA PRESERVAÇÃO DA QUALIDADE PÓSCOLHEITA DE TOMATE DE MESA.

The tomato is one of the olerícolas of greater economic importance and preference of consumption. However, due to the high perishability of this fruit, it is fundamental to study methods for its post-harvest conservation, for example the use of edible coatings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of different edible coatings on the post-harvest quality of table tomatoes stored at room temperature. The fruits were coated with cassava starch, corn starch, calcium chloride and propolis extract at 3% concentrations and stored for 12 days at room temperature (25 ± 2 ° C and 85 ± 5% RH) . Total fresh solids content (TSS), total titratable acidity (ATT), pH, SST / ATT ratio and visual appearance (firmness, color bark, general quality and incidence of rot). Next, a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. There was a significant effect at the 1% level of significance in the interaction of the days storage factors and coatings. In general, the treatments with cassava starch and corn starch maintained the physiological and qualitative characteristics that involve the maturing of the tomatoes and are therefore indicated as post-harvest alternatives to prolong the shelf life of these fruits when kept at room temperature conditions marketing and consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]