3.1. Color parameters
Fig. 1 shows color parameters (L∗C∗h°) for control, vacuum-packed and pressurized samples during storage at 10 °C for 21 days. Over the entire period, L∗ and C∗ values were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in the vacuum-packed (V) and pressurized samples (V-P) than in the control (C). This difference was visually perceived as a translucent and moisturized aspect of the fruit surface.
On the other hand, pressurized cubes (V-P) maintained values of h° higher than control and vacuum-packed samples during the whole storage period, although this difference become statistically significant (p < 0.05) only towards the end of the period evaluated.
The development of enzymatic browning is generally reflected by a decrease in both L∗ value (which can be associated to the darkening of the fruit), and h° angle (which was linked to the browning at the surface) ( Rocha & Morais, 2003). The fact that no sample had in the present research showed a decrease in these parameters evidences that enzymatic browning was effectively controlled. Since samples inside the vacuum packaging are exposed to an oxygen-free environment, enzymatic browning was probably inhibited because of the exclusion of this gas, necessary for the browning reaction