QUANTIFICATION OF POSTHARVEST DAMAGES IN NECTARINE IN THE SÃO PAULO WHOLESALE MARKET

Postharvest damages in nectarine cause important fruit depreciation in the market. This research aimed to quantify and characterize the postharvest damages in nectarine in CEAGESP, the largest fruit and vegetables wholesale market in Latin America. Damage was assessed in 1% of the commercialized fruits during September/December 2003 and September/November 2004. Fruits containing unidentified lesions were kept in a wet chamber for 24 h and analyzed. Ten thousands and six hundred eighteen fruits were assessed in the first season and 5,777 fruits in the second one. Postharvest mechanical injuries were the most frequent damages, varying from 7 to 30% of fruits in the 2003 season and from 9 to 17% in the 2004 season. The percentage of fruits affected by diseases varied from 1 to 9% and from 1 to 6% in the 2003 and 2004 seasons, respectively. Physiological damages varied from 3 to 18% in the 2003 season and from 2 to 5% in the 2004 season. The most frequent pathogens were Rhizopus, Monilinia, Geotrichum, Cladosporium, besides bacteria.