Quality of cashew pseudofruits treated with calcium at postharvest and stored under refrigeration

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of postharvest calcium applications on chemical and physico-chemical characteristics, quality atributes and calcium tissue concentration of early dwarf cashew pseudofruits (Anacardium occidentale L.), stored under refrigeration and modified atmosphere. The cashews were immersed in water and in different calcium chloride solution concentrations (0.5, 1 and 2% (w/v)) for two minutes. Cashews were put in polysterene trays, packed in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and storaged at 5±1°C, 88±3% RH for 25 days. The total soluble solids (Brix) and soluble sugars decreased during storage. The pseudofruits, independent of the chloride calcium concentration, showed a tendency to decrease the total titratable acidity and vitamin C, and an increase of pH during storage. The anthocyanins content showed no variation in treated cashew pseudofruits. Small reductions in less polymerized polyphenolic fraction were observed during the storage period. The chloride calcium concentrations 0.5 and 2.0% slightly increased tissue calcium concentration until the 15^o storage day, and decreased, afterwards, until the end of the experiment.