VISUAL QUALITY AND PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN POTATO TUBERS TREATED WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

Resumo

Unconventional techniques such as the use of visible ultraviolet light (UV-C) and physical treatments have been used to combat post-harvest diseases. Attention has been focused on the use of hydrogen peroxide, but little is known about its effects on the control of bacteria causing soft rot. The objective of this study was to evaluate the incidence of soft rot and physical-chemical and visual characteristics in potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.) treated with hydrogen peroxide. The experiment was conducted following a completely randomized design in subdivide plots scheme with four treatments: 0, 50, 100 and 150ppm of hydrogen peroxide whit an inoculated plot and a non inoculated. The visual aspects were evaluated by for to the incidence of soft rot appearance of shoots. pH, titratable acidity (% citric acid), soluble solids content, pulp firmness and total sugar content were used to determine post-harvest quality. Hydrogen peroxide was not effective in controlling soft rot in potato tubers, but increased the metabolic activity of tubers leading to an increase in soluble solids content and reduced in titratable acidity.