This work aimed to evaluate the effect of mechanical injuries, impact, compression and cut on the postharvest quality of peaches cv. Aurora-1. Impact injury was obtained dropping fruit, twice, from a height of 1.20 m. Compression injury was performed with the fruit submitted to weight (3 kg) for 10 minutes. Cut injury was obtained cutting fruits, three times, in the longitudinal direction. after these treatments the injured fruit and the control (not damage fruit) were stored to 10±1.5 °C and 85±2 % RH for 8 days. The loss of fresh mass, appearance, color and contents of soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), soluble sugars, pH and firmness were evaluated. Mechanical injuries promoted marks in peaches 'Aurora-1', affecting the appearance that obtained a low score at the sixth day of storage. 'Aurora-1' peaches submitted to impact had greater loss of fresh mass than control, compression and cut. The injured area was darker and colorless than intact areas. This deleterious effect also was verified when the fruit were submitted to impact, when compared with the other treatments. The chemical composition was not affected by the injuries. During the storage there was an increase in SS content and soluble sugars and reduction in TA, resulting in better ratio SS:TA.
Prunus persica; postharvest; mechanical damages
