This research had the objective of evaluating the efficiency of the "carnaúba" wax in post-harvest of persimmon fruits (Diospyros kaki), cv. Giombo. The treatments were the rapid immersion of fruits into solutions containing 12.5, 25 and 50 % of the commercial product Meghwax ECF 100®, being a 30 % non ionic emulsion of carnaúba wax. After drying, fruits were stored at 4 ºC and 80 % RH. Chemical and physical characteristics of the fruits were measured throughout sixty days, at fifteen day intervals, followed by a 4-day period at 20 ºC simulating commercialization periods. The pulp firmness, pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, water loss, tannins and ascorbic acid contents were evaluated. The use of carnaúba wax, regardless of the concentration, diminished the loss of fresh mass of the fruits at up to 7.8 % during storage periods of 60 days under cold chamber conditions, followed by a 4-day period at 20 ºC. The immersion of the fruits into 12.5 % of wax solutions was efficient to reduce losses of ascorbic acid and pulp firmness, extending therefore the storage period in 6 days. Throughout the time and ripening of the fruits, reductions of the acidity and increases of pH were also observed in the current study.
Diospyrus kaki; post-harvest; loss of fresh mass
