1048 HEAT AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERES FOR CONTROL OF POSTHARVEST DECAY

Abstract

The produce industry faces a future with reduced access to postharvest fungicides. It has become increasingly important to reduce commodity susceptibility to decay and to develop non chemical methods for decay control. Heat therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for control of numerous decays and is currently practiced for control of anthracnose in mangoes and papayas and for decay control in oranges. The limitations to heat therapy include the often tine line between effectiveness and commodity injury and the lack of residual protection. Modified atmosphere has been used effectively for many years by the California strawberry and raspberry industry to allow cross-country shipment of a commodity on which no postharvest fungicides are used. It has been shown that CO2 concentrations of 15% and higher inhibit the growth of many fungi, including Botrytis cinerea, the main cause of strawberry decay. Many commodities cannot tolerate 15% CO2 for an extended period of time. However, the short term (1 to 3 weeks) tolerance has not been determined. With the loss of postharvest fungicides, we may find that many commodities could benefit from shipment under high CO2, as have strawberries. The combination of heat therapy and MA will also be discussed.