The objective of this study was to determine the best lettuce cultivar (American 'Graciosa', 'Vanda', 'Marcela' and 'Lavínia') harvesting method. Therefore, quality and shelf-life were evaluated using sensory analyses. Lettuce heads was harvested with the root on by the producer, so that they were cut in different ways in the laboratory. The samples were stored in a cold chamber at 10 °C and 80% ± 2% of relative humidity for nine days, and the sensorial analyses were performed according to Qualitative Descriptive Analysis method on days 1, 3, 6, and 9 of storage by twelve trained testers. The results were evaluated by variance analysis, principal component analysis, and the Tukey test with a reliability of 95%. The results indicate that there was a reduction in the quality of lettuce between the 1st and the 5th day of storage and that after the sixth day of storage the lettuce samples were considered unfit for consumption, except for the 'Lavínia' lettuce cultivar with root and cut treatment 2. On the ninth day of storage all samples were considered inappropriate for consumption.

Sementes de feijão 'IAC-Carioca SH', após terem sido submetidas aos processos de classificação por peneiras e de separação por densidade em mesa gravitacional, foram avaliadas quanto à qualidade fisiológica e sanitária das sementes, contidas em três frações de descarga da mesa gravitacional. O teste envelhecimento acelerado não foi influenciado pelo tamanho da semente e o seu desempenho está relacionado ao grau de umidade das sementes. As sementes de maior densidade podem ser armazenadas por doze meses para posterior plantio, com pequena perda do poder germinativo e que não chegou a comprometer o estande. Sementes de densidade intermediária retidas nas peneiras 10, 12 e 13 e armazenadas até o décimo mês podem ser utilizadas como semente. Sementes de densidade menor, não são recomendadas para plantio e apresentam maior índice de contaminação por fungos de campo. A incidência dos fungos de armazenamento Aspergillus spp. e Penicillium spp., foi relacionada à umidade relativa no local de armazenamento da semente.

The performance of IAC-Carioca SH bean seeds, after they have been submitted to the classification processes by sieves and separation by density in the gravitational table, were evaluated in relation to the physiologic and sanitary quality of the seeds, contained in three fractions of discharge of the gravitational table. The vigor test was not influenced by the size of the seed and its acting is related to the degree of humidity. Higher density seeds could be stored for twelve months with small loss of their germination percentage without compromising the stand. Seeds of medium density retained in the sieves 10, 12 and 13 and stored until the tenth month can be used as seed. Seeds with lower density, are not recommended for planting and they present larger index of contamination by field fungi. Seed contamination by storage fungi Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., was directly related to the relative humidity of the storage facility.

RESUMO Neste trabalho avaliou-se o uso de filmes plásticos (polietileno de 0,05 e 0,08 mm de espessura, 'Everfreshbag' e sacolinhas sanfonadas), de caixas de madeira e de papelão ondulado na qualidade de uvas Itália, durante armazenamento refrigerado. Os cachos de uva foram avaliados semanalmente quanto a percentagem de perda de peso, a taxa de desgrana, a mudança de cor das bagas, a ocorrência de bagas deterioradas, ao aspecto do cacho e a qualidade do engaço. Considerando-se em conjunto os vários parâmetros de qualidade da uva avaliados, constatou-se que a embalagem sacolinha plástica demonstrou ser adequada para conservar uvas Itália por até seis semanas em refrigeração.

ABSTRACT Storage tests were conducted to determine the effect of the kind and thickness of plastic film and 'Everfreshbag' or cardboard boxes on quality of Italian grapes during cold storage. Percentage of cluster weight loss, decayed berries, percentage of dropped berries, appearance of clusters and stem browning were evaluated once a week. Taking into consideration various parameters of grape quality, it is observed that grapes packed in perforated plastic bags could be stored in good conditions until six weeks.