Mean values for the attributes of the coated and uncoated
fruits were subjected to a Principal Component Analysis
(PCA). By this analysis the space of seven variables
(quality parameters significantly related to the two first
factors) was reduced to a plane defined by two principal
components (Factor 1 and Factor 2) accounting for 60.0%
at the 13th day, 75.5% at the 47th day and 83.8% at the
97th day respectively of the total variance of the original
data. Nevertheless, at the 13th day the third factor is
needed to explain higher value of the total variation
(77.15%). So, it may be stated that at the 13th day,