Hot-air induced thermotolerance of red ginger flowers and mealybugs to postharvest hot-water immersion
Arnold H. Hara, Trent Y. Hata, Benjamin K. -S. Hu and Marcel M. C. Tsang
Postharvest Biology and Technology Vol: 12 Issue: 1 Pages: 101-108
1997
บทคัดย่อ
Vase life of red ginger flowers, Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K.
Schume, subjected to postharvest hot-air conditioning (40°C,
64% r.h.) for 2 h prior to hot-water immersion (49°C for 12
min) equaled or exceeded the vase life of red ginger treated in hot-water
immersion only and control flowers in 96% of the trials conducted during a one
year period. Reduced flower quality (marketability) (13% of trials) and reduced
vase life (4% of trials) from hot-air and hot water treatments occurred in
months with high rainfall (58
cm month-1) or drought (
5
cm month-1). Flowers conditioned in hot air before hot-water
immersion tolerated 49°C water for up to 13 min, exceeding a proposed 12
min treatment time with no significant loss in vase life or marketability. No
apparent benefits were observed for conditioning flowers longer than 2 h in hot
air. Hot-air conditioning prior to hot-water immersion increased mealybug
survival by 0.4¯40%.