PUMPKIN SEED PREPARATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

The experiment presented is aimed to analise the removal of mucilage from pumpkin seeds through the method of water in high pressure using a domestic pump. The experiment was submitted to the following treatments: T0) Fermentation for 72 hours followed by washing on a steel sieve; the seeds were submitted to high pressure showers for T1) 0 seconds (witnessing the mucilage); T2) 10 seconds; T3) 20 seconds; T4) 30 seconds; T5) 40 seconds; T6) 50 seconds. he seeds were evaluated according to the following variations in germination and vigor: Germination test, first germination counting, mass of fresh/dried material from the plantule, root and aerial part lenghts. The applied outline was entirely random (DIC) with four repetitions, each one consisting of 50 seeds. The method of water in high pressure to remove the mucilage from pumpkin seeds presents more efficiency than others, for it maitains the same quality, yet delivering a faster process. The periods for exposure to the water showers that deliver the best germination and vigor performances vary between 10 and 50 seconds. Therefore, the removal of mucilage from pumpkin seeds can be carried out through water showers in high pressure, it being efficient up to 10 seconds of exposure.