DESENVOLVIMENTO E AVALIAÇÃO DE FILMES BIODEGRADÁVEIS À BASE DE FÉCULA DE MANDIOCA INCORPORADO COM ÓLEO ESSENCIAL DAS FOLHAS DO Cochlospermum regium NO ARMAZENAMENTO DE MORANGOS

Abstract

Rhizopus stolonifer is a postharvest phytopathogenic fungus belonging to the zygomycete class that causes soft rot in fruits and vegetables. Its spores, present in packaging and marketing environments, can easily rot these foods. Within this context, the present work developed and evaluated biodegradable films (FBS) based on cassava starch incorporated with essential oil (EO) from the leaves of Cochlospermum regium in the storage of strawberries. The EO was analyzed in a gas chromatograph. The antifungal activity assay used was the disk diffusion assay. The FBS were characterized by the determination of thickness, water solubility, transparency, water vapor permeability and biodegradability. Strawberries through weight loss, simple decay, phenol content, anthocyanin content, total soluble solids content, firmness and surface color. The major compounds found in the EO were: Myrcene (36.45%), Bicyclogermacrene (21.30%), Germacrene D (7.43%) and Spatulenol (5.65%), to our knowledge there is no record of chemical analysis of essential oil from fresh leaves of C. regium in the literature. FBS with 75 µL.mL-1 of EO in its formulation had higher values for thickness, UV 280nm light barrier and water vapor permeability. In FBS with 75 µL.mL-1 of EO and 0.0625g of tween 80, biodegradability was greater than 60%. The weight, texture, content of phenols, total soluble solids and simple decay reduced over time, whereas the anthocyanin content increased. Additionally, the strawberries became redder, darker and less shiny. FBS with EO at 75 µL.mL-1 showed strong activity against the appearance of brown spots and visible gray mold on the surface of strawberries. The parameters luminosity, chromaticity and degree of Hue indicated ripening of strawberries. At a higher incorporation dose, EO 75 µL.mL-1, the FBS showed potential to be used in the development of active and biodegradable packaging for the storage of strawberries.