Análisis poscosecha de Vaccinium meridionale Swartz en diferentes estados de madurez

Contextualization: agraz, Vaccinium meridionale Swartz, is a climacteric fruit characterized by a drastic loss of its organoleptic properties when it reaches the maximum point of maturity, reducing the commercial and nutritional quality of the berry. Knowledge gap: agraz is observed in the market in different degrees of maturity with detriment of the final quality; consequently, the physicochemical characterization as a defined criterion for harvesting the fruit in the high Andean zone of the department of Cauca is unknown. Purpose: to determine the physicochemical parameters of the agraz fruit, to establish a basis of its properties, serving as a guide in harvesting and processing processes. Methodology: fruits from Gabriel López, municipality of Totoró (Cauca-Colombia) were analyzed, determining compressive strength, fresh mass, pH and maturity index, under a completely randomized experimental design, according to six stages of maturity. Results and conclusions: higher firmness to mechanical fracture was observed in the agraz fruits at stages 0 to 2. pH presented the highest peaks at stages 4 and 5 while, fresh mass per fruit showed a descending behavior from stage 0 to 5, with values from 0.53 g to 0.68 g being observed. Variability in the maturity index was identified from 2.4 to 5.2 among treatments The appropriate stage for postharvest storage and transport of the fruit was determined at stage 2.