STUDY OF REFRIGERATION SYSTEM IMPACT ON VITAMIN C AND TOTAL POLYPHENOLS CONTENT AND MASS VARIATION OF Fragaria vesca L. FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT

Strawberry is a non-climacteric pseudofruit that has a short shelf life after harvest. Among the factors responsible for the strawberries quality loss are the high metabolic activity and high susceptibility to microbial attack, mainly by fungi. The objective of this work is to study physicochemical parameters of strawberries (Fragaria vesca L.)  submitted to different cooling system conditions. Strawberries were stored at temperatures of 2 °C and 6 °C with a range of ±1 °C and packed in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays wrapped by polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film. Samples were evaluated for their physicochemical aspects, such as: mass variation, vitamin C content and total polyphenols. The assays were done in triplicate. The results show that storage at 6 °C ±1 °C is better to maintain the strawberries quality stored during 6 days, because under these conditions a lower mass variation was obtained. These parameters are associated with low moisture loss, which also assists in the preservation of polyphenols. And storage at 2 °C ±1 °C favored the maintenance of total polyphenols and Vitamin C.   With this information it is possible to optimize technologies for this type of food with focus on reducing the environmental impact and waste of food and drinking water, supporting research developed in multinational refrigeration area