Water content of pomegranate seeds subjected to storage and packaging periods

Abstract

The worldwide demand for unconventional fruits, such as pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), has grown due to their nutraceutical characteristics. Given the social and industrial importance of the crop, information about the seed storage conditions should be elucidated to technicalize its cultivation. The objective of this work was to evaluate, by determining the water content, the behavior of pomegranate seeds when stored in different periods and packages. The seeds were separated into two lots: seeds with sarcotesta and without sarcotesta. The storage periods used were: 30, 60, 90, and 120 days, in 3 types of packaging (polyethylene, paper bags, and glass bottles), stored in BOD at 5 ± 1ºC, and relative humidity 35 ± 2%. After storage periods, the seed water content was evaluated. Throughout the storage periods, the polyethylene and glass packages maintained the water content of the pomegranate seeds with and without sarcotesta. The paper bag packages did not retain the water content of pomegranate seeds with sarcotesta during the storage periods.