Reducción del pardeamiento enzimático en hinojos enteros y mínimamente procesados en mitades

In order to inhibit browning on intact and half cut fennel bulbs washing with different anti-browning solutions was applied. These solutions were prepared with different levels of ascorbic a citric acids and EDTA. The storage under humidified air at 15°C was prolonged 8 days for the intact bulbs and 4 days for the half cut bulbs. The respiratory activity and ethylene emission were periodically monitored. Throughout storage of the intact and half cut bulbs, the surface colour was determined. At the beginning and after storage, chemical and sensory attributes, and browning were evaluated. The metabolic activity was slightly higher in half cut bulbs than in intact bulbs. Fennel bulbs have showed a non-climacteric respiratory behaviour. Ascorbic (50 g L') and citric (50 g L') solutions increased the respiratory activity of fennel bulbs (220 and 130 mg CO 2 kg -1 h -1 respectively) and the ethylene emission (8,3 and 17,5 μL C 2 H 4 kg -1 h -1 respectively) and were not able to control efficiently browning. However in half bulbs the citric acid, that initially stimulated the metabolism, finally was similar than the EDTA, although inducing a chemical damage. On the other hand, 5 g L -1 EDTA was partially useful to control the enzymatic browning on the cut zone in intact as well as in minimally fresh processed bulbs.