FML increased during storage regardless of the ozone treatment
(Figure 3). On the other hand, FML in ozonized pears was higher than
in non-ozonated pears, which can be explained by the high oxidation
power of ozone. Salvador et al. [26] also observed similar behavior in
persimmon. These authors treated the fruits with ozone (0.15 ppm) for
15 days and also found increased release of electrolytes in ozonated
persimmons. This behavior indicates the reaction of the gas with the
cuticle, whose main function is to control water loss by transpiration,
and with lipoprotein components [27]. In contrast, other studies
reported a lower water loss in ozonized fruits, for instance, strawberry
treated with 1.5 ppm ozone at 2oC for 3 days [28]. The largest FML in
the ozonized fruit is a negative effect of the treatment. The water
content is directly related to sensory quality of the product, occurring
change in texture.