Insecticidal atmospheres for tropical fruits.
Yahia E. M.
Author Affiliation: Departamento de Investigación y Posgrado en Alimentos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro, QRO, 76010, Mexico.
: 282-286
Abstract : Atmospheres with very low O2 (?0.5%) and/or very high CO2 (?50%) are insecticidal. However, not all fresh fruits and vegetables can tolerate such extreme atmospheres. Avocado (cv. Hass), papaya [pawpaw] (cv. Sunrise) and mango (cv. Keitt) fruits tolerated these atmospheres for 1, 2 and 5 days, resp., at 20°C. The potential use is discussed of insecticidal atmospheres as a quarantine insect control treatment for mango, avocado and papaya fruits, on the basis of fruit tolerance, insect mortality and costs.