Litchi fruits cv. Bengal were submitted to hydrothermal treatments and packed in PET trays with lid (BT) and covered with PVC film 15µm (BF). The treatments were : T1-BT- and T2-BF without hydrothermal treatment; T3-BT-water at 55 º C for 20s, T4-BF-water at 55ºC for 20s, T5-BT-water at 55º C for 10s plus citric acid 60% for 10s, T6-BF-water at 55ºC for 10s plus citric acid 60% for 10s, T7-BT- citric acid 60% for 20s and T8-BF- citric acid 60% for 20s. Changes in the main physical, chemical and sensory characteristics and the presence of disease in litchi stored at 4ºC and 25ºC were evaluated. At the end of the study, litchi fruits were slightly less acid, with a slight increase in pH and a slight reduction of the soluble solids content. After two days at 25ºC all fruits were infected by molds. The treatments T5, T6, T7, T8 were considered unacceptable (score > 4) from the 15th day, T1, T2, T3 and T4 were acceptable up to 21 days by visual assessment. The treatments T1 and T4 resulted in the best red color. Treatment T2 had the highest values of firmness of the pericarp, showing that the PVC film protected against loss of firmness, moisture and wilting. The weight loss was lower for the treatments T6 and T8 (0.4%) both with PVC film, and more than T5 (5.6%) with PET tray with lid.
Litchi chinensis; postharvest and browning
