Handmade solar dryer: an environmentally and economically viable alternative for small and medium producers.

The solar dryer can reduce production costs, energy consumption, waste (use fruits outside the quality standard for fresh consumption) and is an alternative for small and medium producers. The solar dryer can reduce costs and is an alternative for small and medium producers worldwide. The consumption of fresh and processed tomatoes is high in the world, but post-harvest losses is also and drying is an alternative to reduce these losses. The temperature maintenance and drying time corresponds 30% of the costs. The objective was evaluated the tomato physicochemical characteristics after drying in handmade solar dryer. 'Carmen' tomato fruits were bleached in water, 2.5% NaCl solution, 2.5% NaCl + 0.5% CaCl2 solution and unbleached. Tomato slices were placed in a handmade solar dryer from 7:00 to 17:00. The solar dryer prototype was wood made, comprising a collector and a drying chamber. The average cost of the camera was US$ 13.08 (1 Brazilian Real = 0.26 United States Dollar). Water loss, drying kinetics, mathematical models and physicochemical characteristics of fresh and dried tomatoes were evaluated. The average length of solar drying for the four treatments was 30 h and the Midilli and Kucuk mathematical model was the most adjusted. The acidity, reducing sugars and soluble solids were concentrated by drying, while ascorbic acid was reduced. The pH did not change. Tomatoes 'Carmen' can be dried in a handmade solar dryer for 30 h while maintaining product quality.

Healing of Gladioulus grandiflora corms and Fusarium oxysporum infection.

Gladiolus grandiflorus L. is highly susceptible to Fusarium and losses caused by this disease varies from 60% to 100%. Injuries caused during harvest, transport and inadequate storage, facilitate infection. The dynamics of wound healing can reduce infection by Fusarium. The objective was to characterize the wound healing in corms of G. grandiflora stored under refrigeration and how it affects the entry and establishment of F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli infection. Corms were wounded and stored at 12 ± 4°C and relative humidity of 90 ± 5%. Cell damage, fresh weight loss, respiration, phenolic compounds, tissue darkening, suberization, lignification and resistance to infection were evaluated. Wounds on corms caused transepidermal damage with collapse and cell death. Physiological (increased loss of mass and respiration) and biochemical changes (deposition of lignin and suberin, enzymatic activity) occurred in the cells neighboring those death by the injury. The injury caused gradual darkening of the tissue, injured and neighbor. Fusarium oxysporum infection decreased with wound healing. The healing of injured G. grandiflora corms stored at 12ºC occurs from the 3rd day after injury by the accumulation of suberin, lignin, and melanin, inhibiting F. oxysporum f. sp. gladioli infection.

Storage of white chrysanthemum under room conditions using preservative solutions / Armazenamento de crisântemos brancos sob condição ambiente utilizando soluções conservantes

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of preservative solutions on the maintenance of postharvest quality of white type chysanthemum flowers (Dendrathema grandiflora T.).  Flowers were kept at room temperature (24 ± 2C and 85 ± 2 % UR), under the following treatments: distilled water (control); sodium hypochloride solutions (80ppm and 800 ppm); sucrose solutions (10% and 15 %) and hidroxyquinoline solutions (0.04% and 0.08 %).  Flowers were stored under these treatments during 18 days, being the solutions changed each 4 days.  The following evaluations were done: longevity (scores from 0 to 4), flower appearance (scores from 1 to 9). Sodium hipochloride solutions at 80ppm and 800 ppm reduced white chrysanthemum longevity as compared to control.  The utilization the hidroxyquinoline solutions at 0.04% and 0.08 % had no effects on flower longevity or quality maintenance. The preservative solution utilizing 10 % of sucrose kept the postharvest quality during 17 days, providing flowers with lower percentage of dark spots, and lower index of petals and leaves damage.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de soluções conservantes na manutenção da qualidade pós-colheita de flores de crisântemo (Dendranthema grandiflora T.) do tipo branco, variedade Calábria. As flores foram mantidas à temperatura ambiente, de 24 ± 2ºC e 85 ± 2% UR, nos seguintes tratamentos: água destilada (controle), solução de hipoclorito de sódio (80ppm e 800ppm), solução de sacarose (10% e 15%) e solução de hidroxiquinolina (0.04% e 0.08%). As flores permaneceram dezoito dias no ambiente de armazenamento, sendo as soluções substituídas a cada quatro dias. Foram realizadas as seguintes avaliações: longevidade (notas de 0-4), aparência (notas de 1-9). As soluções de hipoclorito de sódio a 80ppm e 800ppm reduziram a longevidade de crisântemos brancos, comparadas ao controle. A utilização de soluções de hidroxiquinolina a 0.04% e 0.08% não contribuiu no prolongamento da longevidade ou manutenção da boa aparência das flores. Conclui-se que a solução conservante à base de sacarose a 10% manteve a vida útil pós-colheita durante 17 dias, proporcionando menor percentual de flores com manchas escuras e menores danos às sépalas e folhas.