Danos de frio e qualidade de frutas cítricas tratadas termicamente e armazenadas sob refrigeração

ABSTRACT- In this study, thermal treatments (temperature conditioning and intermittent warming) were applied in ´Valencia´ orange,´Murcott´ tangor and ´Tahiti´ lime stored in low temperature. Fruits were stored at 1 o C during 90 days and evaluate after every 15 daysaccording with the incidence of chilling injury and changes in physical-chemical characteristics. ‘Tahiti’ lime and ´Murcott’ tangorintermittently warmed could be stored up to 90 days at 1 o C, without the occurrence of chilling injury while control fruits showed chillinginjury after 30 days (´Tahiti’ lime) and after 45 days (´Murcott’ tangor). ´Valencia’ orange was affected by chilling injury af ter 45 days ofcold storage. In this cultivar, temperature conditioning has caused lower incidence of chilling injury. The intermittent warming is atreatment that can be used in these citrus cultivars without affecting the physical and chemical characteristics of fruits.Index terms: chilling injury, Citrus sp, temperature conditioning, intermittent warming.