Firmeza de caqui 'Giombo' submetido à aplica？？o pós-colheita de cloreto de cálcio

the effect postharvest application of calcium chloride was evaluated about the firmness of 'giombo' persimmon. the fruits were harvest manually with the fruit ripe middle and with approximately 50% of the green coloration. the fruits without adstringency and adstringent were immersed in water (t1 = it controls), and in solution of calcium chloride for 10 minutes. the evaluated concentrations were: t2 =0.5% cacl2, t3 =1.0% cacl2, t4 =2.0% cacl2 and t5 =3.0% cacl2. the fruits were packed in expanded polystyrene (eps) trays, covered by low densidy polyethylene (ldpe) and stored under refrigeration to the 0oc (85-90%ur%). it was evaluated the weight loss, firmness, polygalacturonase (pg) and pectinametylesterase (pme) enzymes activity. the persimmon control fruits with adstingency, presented, on average, to smallest weigth loss and the largest firmness the fruits submitted to the concentrations of calcium presented the largest pme activities in the end of the evaluations without difference among the treatments. fruits with adstingency showed smaller pg activities of pg when compared to without adstingency. calcium chloride application didn't showed positive increment in the quality maintenance of the firmness 'giombo' persimmon.