This study aimed to evaluate the postharvest quality of ambarella at different stages of maturation in cold storage. The fruits were collected in Mossoró, RN, at four ripening stages (I: green fruit, with some lumps; II: fruit with 75% green skin; III: fruit with 50% green skin; IV: fruit with 25% of green skin) and transported to the Laboratory of Post-Harvest at UFERSA, where they were selected for uniformity of ripeness, washed and placed on a tray for transport to the cold-regulated temperature of 10 ± 2 º C and RH 90 ± 5%, where they remained for seven and 14 days. Fruits were evaluated for weight loss, soluble solids, acidity and vitamin C. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 4x2 factorial. To compare temperatures, it was used the F test at 5% probability and for the storage periods it was used the adjustment models of simple regression. It was found that the fruit characteristics were preserved, regardless of maturity stage, up to seven days of refrigerated storage. At 14 days of storage, the fruits harvested at stage II of maturity, maintained good quality. While the fruit at maturity stage I have not developed the typical features of ripe fruit and those harvested at III and IV showed symptoms of senescence.
Spondias cytherea; Physiochemical analyses; Tropical fruit
