Tolerance and responses of harvested mango to insecticidal low-oxygen atmospheres.
Yahia E. M., Tiznado Hernandez M.
Author Affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo, A.C., Apartado Postal 1735, Hermosillo, Sonora 83000, Mexico.
HortScience 28 : 1031-1033
Abstract : Low O2 concentrations (?0.5%), alone or in conjunction with high CO2 concentrations, can be used to control insects in fresh horticultural crops. However, most fruits and vegetables do not tolerate these extreme atmospheres for prolonged periods. In this study, mangoes (cv. Keitt) were stored for 0-5 days at 20°C in a continuous flow of an insecticidal low-O2 atmosphere (0.2-0.3%, balance N2). Fruits were evaluated every day during storage in the low-O2 atmosphere and again after being held in air at 20° for 5 days. There was no fruit injury or reduction in organoleptic fruit quality due to the low-O2 atmosphere, and fruits ripened normally. These results indicate that applying low-O2 atmospheres postharvest can be used to control insects in mangoes without adversely affecting fruit quality.