Sweetsop fruits show limitations to the distribution to distant markets due to their fast ripening, which turns them very soft and difficult to handle without the occurrence of damage, with their conservation extremely reduced. This study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the polyvinyl chloride associated to cooling temperatures in the post-harvest conservation of the sweetsop. The fruits were selected, washed, sanitized and stored in polystyrene trays with or without polyvinyl chloride and stored at 12 ºC and 25 ºC. The following characteristics were evaluated: color rind, firmness, fresh matter loss, soluble solids, titrable acidity, total sugars and starch. The fruits stored at 12 ºC with polyvinyl chloride kept the green coloration of the rind up to the 18th day, showing lower loss of fresh matter and rind firmness as well as lower content of the soluble solids and titrable acidity in relation to the fruits stored at 25 ºC. The use of the package associated to the temperature of 12 ºC allowed a safe period of 18 days under storage with appropriate maintenance of the physiochemical attributes. The fruits stored for 6 days at 25 ºC, with or without PVC, did not show desirable physicochemical characteristics.
Annona squamosa L.; temperature; modified atmosphere
