While the pumpkin slices were still hot, their peel was removed
and their remaining pulp was crushed and homogenised in an industrial
blender (Metvisa, Brusque, Brazil). The pulp samples were put
into 260 ml glass bottles and then heat-treated in an autoclave at
121 C for 20 min for commercial sterilisation. A headspace was left
in all the bottles so that a partial vacuum was generated inside them.