Influence of hydrothermal treatments on papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.).

Abstract

Four postharvest hydrothermal treatments were applied on papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.) ‘Golden’ and the stress stimulated by the treatments was monitored by the ethylene (C2H4), carbon dioxide (CO2) emission rates and fruit quality. The postharvest hydrothermal treatments consisted of submerging alternately the fruit into two water baths, the first one with water at a temperature of 49°C and the second at 12°C. An increase in the emission rates of both gaseous species (C2H4 and CO2) was observed as a response to the stress. Typical quality parameters as pulp firmness, pH, titratable acidity and total soluble solids were simultaneously determined and correlated with the gases emitted from the fruits.