The consumption of corn on the cob of normal type is traditional in Brazil. Its commercialization, as fresh product, properly cleaned and packaged, is being offered increasingly in the market as fresh cut corn. Therefore, it is necessary more studies about this kind of products. The aim of this study was evaluated the influence of two different atmospheres (2% O2 + 8% CO2, 4% O2 + 8% CO2) atmosphere and room atmosphere) under 5 °C on the quality of fresh cut corn (Embrapa HT1) on the cob of normal type for 12 days´ storage. The control atmospheres were effective in reducing the weight loss of cobs, which also showed lower values of total titratable acidity, which indicates lower respiratory activity. The soluble solids, total carotenoids, zeaxanthin, firmness and the glucose, fructose and sucrose contents were influenced only by the storage time. It can be verified that concentrations of reducing sugars were higher than the sucrose during the storage. The L* value decreased until 8 days of storage in all the atmospheres studied, with a small increase in control until day 12. All the samples of fresh cut corn studied, independent of the treatment, were within the acceptable microbiologic limits.
corn on the cob; Zea mays; fresh-cut; control atmosphere; quality; post-harvest
