Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of salt concentration on action of natamycin on important microorganisms in food manufacturing as this preservative has been used in immersion baths in several dairy products in the country. Strains of Candida albicans, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were inoculated at different saline and peptone water concentrations and received natamycin treatments. These solutions were maintained at 12 °C and the behavior of the microorganisms evaluated at 0, 24 and 48 hours (T0, T1 and T2). Each microorganism was assessed in isolation as well as the association of C. albicans and E. coli. Under the conditions proposed by the research, it was possible to conclude that 0.025% natamycin has no efficacy on C. albicans inoculated at saline concentrations below 5%. The results obtained in E. coli counts suggest that natamycin may interfere with its development even at concentrations that may be considered low (0.1%) and at salinity conditions of 7.5% to 10%. The association of natamycin with sodium chloride potentiates its antimicrobial action, which can represent an economy and its use is amplified by the industries.

Resumo Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar aspectos microbiológicos e físico-químicos de morangos da variedade Portola, expostos ao gás ozônio em diferentes concentrações e armazenados durante seis dias sob refrigeração. Foram avaliadas concentrações do ozônio equivalentes a 0, 4, 9, 14 e 18 mg L-1, vazão de 1 L min -1, na temperatura de 25 °C, por 30 min. No que tange à qualidade microbiológica, avaliou-se a presença de Salmonella spp. e quantificaram-se coliformes totais, E. coli, bolores e leveduras, e mesófilos aeróbios. Com relação à qualidade físico-química, analisaram-se perda de massa, acidez total titulável, sólidos solúveis totais, pH, relação sólidos solúveis totais e acidez total titulável, além da coloração dos frutos. Adotou-se Delineamento Inteiramente Casualizado em Esquema Fatorial 5×4, sendo cinco tratamentos e quatro períodos de armazenamento (0, 2, 4 e 6 dias), com três repetições. Não foi detectada a presença de Salmonella spp. nos frutos submetidos ou não à ozonização. Quanto à E. coli, a contagem foi inferior ao limite de detecção. A baixa e irregular contagem de coliformes totais nos frutos não permitiu inferir sobre a capacidade do ozônio de inativar microrganismos desse grupo. O ozônio se mostrou eficiente no controle de bolores e de leveduras, e de mesófilos aeróbios em morangos, durante o armazenamento. De maneira geral, o ozônio não afetou negativamente a qualidade físico-química dos morangos. Por outro lado, verificou-se menor perda de massa nos frutos ozonizados quanto maior a concentração de exposição ao gás. Concluiu-se que o ozônio é um importante agente antimicrobiano e, nas condições adotadas no trabalho, provocou redução de microrganismos indesejáveis. Em geral, o ozônio não interferiu nas variáveis físico-químicas avaliadas.

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate microbiological and physical-chemical quality of strawberries, Portola variety, exposed to ozone gas at different concentrations and stored for six days under refrigeration. Ozone concentrations equivalent to 0, 4, 9, 14 and 18 mg·L -1, flow rate of 1 L min-1, at 25 °C, were evaluated for 30 min. Regarding microbiological quality, the presence of Salmonella spp. was evaluated, and total coliforms, E. coli, molds and yeasts and aerobic mesophiles were quantified. Regarding the physical-chemical quality, the following parameters were evaluated: mass loss, titratable total acidity, total soluble solids, pH, total soluble solids ratio, besides the color of the fruits. Completely Randomized Design was used in Factorial Scheme 5 x 4, with five treatments and four storage periods (0, 2, 4 and 6 days), with three replications. No presence of Salmonella spp. was detected in fruits submitted or not to ozonation. For E. coli, the count was below the detection limit. The low and irregular count of total coliforms in the fruits did not allow inferring about the ozone capacity to inactivate microorganisms of this group. Ozone was effective in controlling mold and yeast and aerobic mesophiles in strawberries during storage. In general, ozone did not affect negatively the physical-chemical quality of strawberries. On the other hand, it was observed that, the higher the gas concentration, the lower was the fruits loss of mass. It was concluded that ozone is an important antimicrobial agent, and there was a reduction of undesirable microorganisms under the adopted conditions in this work. In general, ozone did not interfere with the evaluated physical-chemical variables.

RESUMO A ozonização tem sido proposta como alternativa para o tratamento pós-colheita de produtos de origem vegetal. Então, objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a influência do pH na eficácia da água ozonizada no controle de microrganismos e determinar possíveis efeitos na qualidade de morangos armazenados. Para avaliar a influência do pH na água ozonizada em morangos da variedade Portola, dividiu-se os morangos em seis lotes, sendo três lotes expostos a água ozonizada e três lotes em que a água não foi ozonizada, adotando-se diferentes valores de pH e tempo de imersão de 5 min. Os valores de pH adotados foram 3,0, 6,5 e 8,7. Depois da ozonização, os frutos foram armazenados em câmara fria a 5 °C por 6 dias, sendo realizadas análises a cada dois dias. Adotou-se delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 6x4, com três repetições. Quantificaram-se os aeróbios mesófilos, bolores e leveduras, coliformes totais e Escherichia coli e verificou-se a presença de Salmonella spp. Na avaliação da qualidade, analisaram-se perda de massa, acidez titulável (AT), pH, sólidos solúveis (SS), relação SS/AT e cor. Verificou-se que o pH da água influenciou a eficácia da água ozonizada no controle de aeróbios mesófilos e bolores e leveduras. A água ozonizada foi capaz de retardar a perda de massa fresca e manter os níveis de pH, sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, relação SS/AT e das variáveis referentes à cor.

ABSTRACT Ozonation has been proposed as an alternative for the post-harvest treatment of plant products. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of the pH on the efficacy of ozonated water to control microorganisms and to determine the possible effects of ozone on the quality of stored strawberries. To evaluate the influence of pH on ozonated water in Portola variety strawberries, the strawberries were divided into six batches. Three batches were exposed to ozonated water and three batches were exposed to non-ozonized water with different pH levels and an immersion time of 5 min. The pH values used were 3.0, 6.5 and 8.7. After the ozonation, the fruits were stored in a cold chamber at 5 °C for 6 days, and analyses were performed every two days. A completely randomized design was adopted using a 6x4 factorial scheme with three replications. The aerobic mesophiles, molds and yeasts, total coliforms and Escherichia coli were quantified, and the presence of Salmonella spp. was assessed. For the quality evaluation, the mass loss, titratable acidity (TA), pH, soluble solids (SS), SS/TA ratio and color were analyzed. The pH of the water was verified to influenced the effectiveness of the ozonated water to control the aerobic mesophiles and molds and yeasts. The ozonated water can retard fresh mass losses and maintain the pH, soluble solids, titratable acidity, SS/TA ratio and color variables.