ศูนย์นวัตกรรมเทคโนโลยีหลังการเก็บเกี่ยว

Potential of controlled atmospheres for postharvest insect disinfestation of fruits and vegetables.

Ke, D.; Kader, A. A.;

Postharvest News and Information Year: 1992 Vol: 3 Issue: 2 Pages: 31N-37N Ref: 58 ref.

1992

บทคัดย่อ

Insecticidal effects of very low O2 and/or very high CO2 atmospheres at various temperatures are reviewed and compared with the responses and tolerance of fresh fruits and vegetables to similar controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions. The time required for 100% mortality varies with insect species and its developmental stage, temperature, O2 and CO2 levels, and RH. Possible beneficial effects of exposing fruits and vegetables to insecticidal CA conditions include reduction of respiration rate, inhibition of ethylene production and action, retardation of colour change and softening, maintenance of composition and nutritional value, reduction of some physiological disorders, and inhibition of decay. Tolerance of fruits and vegetables to 50-90% CO2 atmospheres is limited by CO2 injury which usually occurs after 3 to 8 days of such treatments. Off-flavour development limits commodity tolerance to O2 levels at or below 1%. The major factors that influence off-flavour development include storage tempera ture, O2 concentration used, respiration rate, resistance to gas diffusion, soluble solids content, and ethanol accumulation rate of the commodity under a low O2 treatment. Using these factors as variables, mathematical models have been developed for predicting fruit tolerance to insecticidal low O2 atmospheres. A comparison of the time required for 100% mortality of insects and commodity tolerances to the insecticidal low O2 and/or high CO2 atmospheres indicates that many insects can be killed before detrimental effects occur in the host fruits and vegetables. These CA treatments have a good potential for use as quarantine procedures for some insects in certain fruits and vegetables and merit further investigation.