Tolerance of tropical fruits and a flower to carbonyl sulfide fumigation.
Chen C. C., Paull R. E.
Author Affiliation: Department of Horticulture, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
Postharvest Biology and Technology 14 : 245-250
Abstract : The tolerance of apple banana (cv. Santa Catarina Prata), avocado (cv. Greengold), mango (cv. Odorata) and pawpaw (cv. Sunset) fruits and red ginger (Alpinia purpurata) inflorescences to carbonyl sulfide (COS) fumigation was studied. Commodities were exposed at 25°C to COS at various concentrations (1-6% (v/v) for bananas and 1% and 2% for the other commodities for various times from 1 to 24 h). Fumigation of bananas with 4% COS for 1.5 h, 2% COS for 2.5 h and 1% COS for 4 h did not cause significant skin or flesh injury when evaluated 7 days after treatment. Fumigated bananas and mangoes softened faster than non-fumigated fruits when the treatment did not cause severe skin injury When the dosage and exposure time were increased for these fruits and the treatment caused severe or extreme skin injury, softening was delayed. COS treatments retarded pawpaw fruit skin coloration and flesh softening, while it promoted avocado softening. Avocados tolerated 1% COS for 7 h and 2% COS for less than 4 h, while mangoes tolerated 1% COS for 3 h and 2% COS for 1 h and pawpaws tolerated 1% COS for 16 h. Red ginger inflorescences were less tolerant of COS than fruits, being able to withstand 2% for less than 0.75 h and 1% for less than 2 h. The results suggest that COS may be suitable as a fumigant for surface insects on pawpaws and avocados.