Post-harvest behaviour of the arracacha coated with chitosan

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of chitosan and polyethylene packaging, associated with refrigeration, on the quality of the arracacha cv. Amarela de Senador Amaral. The treatments carried out were, application of 1.5% chitosan, polyethylene packaging lined with PVC film, and a control (untreated and in plastic packaging). The arracacha were washed, peeled, sanitised and treated, and then stored at 0 degrees C for 18 days and at 5 degrees C for 9 days, both at 95% RH. The experiment was arranged in a 2 x 7 x 2 factorial (2 treatments x 7 periods x 2 temperatures) with 5 replications, each consisting of 5 arracacha tubers. The chemical evaluations performed were: determination of the levels of soluble solids, total sugars, starch and the enzymatic activity of polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase. The chitosan promoted an elicitor effect of biochemical responses in the defences of the arracacha, with a significant increase in the activities of polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase.