Nutraceutical, thermophysical and textural characteristics of papaya (Carica papaya L) and incidence for post-harvest management

Papaya fruit is of great importance to local trade. The objective of this research was to evaluate the textural, thermophysical and nutraceutical characteristics (Total phenolic and vitamin C) of fruit cultivated in the Colombian Caribbean in the post-harvest period. Five ripening stage levels were used as a treatment factor. The puncture method was used to measure the firmness of the shell (N) and firmness of the pulp (N) using uniaxial compression tests to measure the deformability modulus (MPa) and elasticity limit (MPa). The thermophysical parameters: thermal conductivity (k), density (ρ), diffusivity (∝) and specific heat (Cp) were calculated using the adjusted math model. The shell firmness decreased from ripening stage one to ripening stage five. The total phenolic content did not conform to a certain model and presented an inversely proportional relationship with the ripening stage. The vitamin C content was directly proportional to the ripening stage and was adjusted to a double quadratic behavior with a coefficient of determination.