POSTHARVEST SHELF-LIFE OF BILIMBI FRUITS (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) UNDER COLD STORAGE

Aiming to evaluate the postharvest shelf-life of bilimbi fruits (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) stored under cold storage, bilimbi fruits were harvested in two maturation stages (determined by the peel color) at ten plants in Arez-RN, Brazil, in November 2006 and transported in polystyrene box containing ice's bag to the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-arido, Mossoro - RN. The fruits were placed in polystyrene trays, packed with PVC film and maintained at 10 +/- 1 degrees C and 95% RH. It was used a completely randomized design in 2 x 6 factorial scheme, which consisted of stadiums (green or yellow) and the period of 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 days, respectively. It was evaluated external appearance, soluble solids, flesh firmness, weight loss, pH, titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid and ratio. There was an increase of the weight loss, pH and the ratio and reduction of the content of ascorbic acid, TA and flesh firmness. The postharvest shelf-life of bilimbi fruits was 9 days.