Encontro de Energia no Meio Rural
AGRENER

Abstract

CASTRO, S. G. F. and CORTEZ, L. A. B. Avaliação da qualidade de flores cortadas de chuva-de-ouro após armazenamento em câmara fria a baixa temperatura. In Proceedings of the 3. Encontro de Energia no Meio Rural, 2000, Campinas (SP, Brazil) [online]. 2003 [cited 04 May 2024]. Available from: <http://www.proceedings.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=MSC0000000022000000100012&lng=en&nrm=iso> .

The magnitude of the losses of flowers postharvest in Brazil is at least of 30%. The importance of the adequate handling conditions that determine the preservation of the quality and reduces the losses of perishable products, such as flowers, involves fast cooling, refrigerated transport, and proper storage. The refrigeration delays the action of the decay agents; as well as reduces the compatible levels the speed of the maturation process. Also, the time lag between harvest and the reduction of the temperature to the required conservation level is inversely proportional to the maintenance of the quality of flowers. Therefore, refrigeration helps saving energy by the reduction of postharvest losses. Once stored in a cold chamber, cut 'Golden-showers' flowers (Oncidium flexuosum Sims) can be stored for a period of time of 10 days at a temperature between 8 ± 1⁰C with 90 to 95% of relative humidity. A data acquisition system was installed recording data from five thermocouples positioned in different locations in the cold chamber. AqDADOS was the software utilized to receive and treat the data. The cooling system had the purpose of maintaining the product quality, and to extend its shelf life. The analysis of the variation of the quality as a function of the storage time demonstrated that flowers stored up to six days in the specified conditions had remained with the same initial quality. After this period the product loses its quality for commercialization purposes. In this experiment, the cooling process of Oncidium flexuosum Sims verified to a good method to extend the flower's shelf life and possibly regulate the product supply to the market.

Keywords : Armazenamento; flores; Oncidium; orquídea; refrigeração; solução preservativa.