Abstract

To develop low pressure/low temperature (LPLT) disinfestation treatments for fresh apples, the LPLT system stability and performance were evaluated first. Different life stages of coding moth were treated in hypobaric chambers maintained at 10°C and 1.33 kPa with nearly saturated humidity to evaluate the tolerance of insects. Weight loss, color, firmness, titratable acidity (TA), and soluble solid content (SSC) were selected as quality parameters to evaluate the quality changes of “Red Delicious” apples after LPLT treatment. Results showed that the regulating system kept pressure to within ±1% of the set point, with a chamber leakage rate of 0.009 kPa/h and LP system leakage rate of 0.480 kPa/h. The most tolerant life stage for codling moth under LPLT treatment conditions was 5th instar larvae. Insect mortality increased with increasing LPLT treatment time to more than 98% after 12 days at 10°C temperature and 1.33 kPa pressure. The quality of apples was maintained well after 15 days of LPLT treatment, suggesting that LPLT technology has potential as an alternative non-chemical disinfestation treatment method for apples.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.