Efficacy of washing treatments in the reduction of post-harvest decay of chestnuts (Castanea crenata ‘Tsukuba’) during storage

Abstract

This research evaluated the influence of different washing treatments (i.e., tap water, ozone, microbubbles, and ozone combined with microbubbles) on post-harvest decay of chestnuts (Castanea crenata ‘Tsukuba’) during storage. Overall, treatments with ozone and microbubbles significantly reduced the decay frequency and the associated microbial populations (aerobic bacteria, mold/filamentous fungi, and yeasts) during post-harvest storage compared with the traditional practice (tap water washing). Enhancing the efficacy of chestnut washing treatments will contribute to the improved storage of high-quality chestnuts.