Modified atmospheres for the postharvest disinfestation of new zealand persimmons

Abstract

The responses of lightbrown apple moth (LB AM—Epiphyas postvittana Walker) and longtailed mealy bug (Pseudococcus longispinus Targioni-Tozetti) on persimmons to controlled (CA) and modified atmosphere (MA) postharvest disinfestation treatments were determined. Atmospheres were generated using fruit: (1) exposed to a continuous gas-flow apparatus (CA); (2) contained in a polymeric film bag with an oxygen scrubber (MA + scrubber); and (3) in a polymeric film bag under vacuum (MA + vac). LBAM larvae on fruit under CA were all killed after 4–7 days exposure to 0.5% O2, 5.3% CO2 but 0.2% of the mealy bug larvae and adults survived. LBAM and mealy bugs were not killed after 7 days at 20°C under MA + scrubber conditions, but were killed after 28 days at 0°C. Only LBAM were killed under MA + vac. The time needed for complete kill of LBAM and mealy bugs under MA conditions was reduced to 14 days at 0°C when fruit were held for 4 days at 20°C before coolstorage at 0°C. The MA treatment shows commercial potential. © 1992 The Royal Society of New Zealand.