Author(s): COSTA, D. A. da; ALVARES, V. de S.; NOGUEIRA, R. M.; KUSDRA, J. F.; MACIEL, V. T.; MIQUELONI, D. P.

Summary: The traditional system of collection and storage of Brazil nut compromises seriously the quality of these almonds as it contributes to the high incidence of contaminants, like fungi of the genus Aspergillus, which can produce aflatoxins. In this study, the objective was to evaluate the influence of the storage period in studied conditions, on the physicochemical characteristics and on the microbiological contamination of Brazil nuts. The experimental was designed as completely randomized, considering as treatments the storage period (0 - control, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days) with four replicates of 3 kg of Brazil nuts each. The samples were submitted to physicochemical and microbiological analysis. It was observed that almonds submitted to the storage had their moisture content reduced by 78.2% at 150 days of storage, however, this reduction was not fast enough to avoid surface contamination by filamentous and potentially aflatoxins producing fungi. The critical period of contamination occurred on the first 30 days of storage when there was an increase of the studied fungi, as well as B1 and total aflatoxin. The studied storage conditions were four times more effective in reducing the product moisture content than the traditional methods, however, pre-drying is necessary to avoid contamination of the product.

Publication year: 2016

Types of publication: Journal article

Unit: Embrapa Acre

Keywords: Aeration silos, Aflatoxina, Aflatoxinas, Aflatoxins, Armazenamento, Aspergillus, Bertholletia excelsa, Brazil nuts, Calidad de almacenaje, Calidad de la fruta, Castanha do brasil, Castanha do pará, Contaminação fúngica, Doença de planta, Enfermedades postcosecha, Fruit quality, Fruto, Fungi, Fungo, Nuez del Brasil, Postharvest diseases, Qualidade, Silo aéreo, Silos, Storage quality