0000000000292308

AUTHOR

Salvatore D'aquino

Effect of surround WP (a Kaolin-based particle film) on Ceratitis capitata infestation, quality and postharvest behavior of cactus pear fruit cv Gialla

ABSTRACT A Kaolin-particle film (Surround WP) was applied at 3% to cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica cv Gialla) to assess its capacity to Control medfly (Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann) infestation and to evaluate its effects on the quality and postharvest behavior of treated fruit. In the first trial, Kaolin was applied at the end of July when fruit were green and about two weeks later, at color breakage. Its efficacy was compared with a standard organophosphate insecticide (Phosmet). The experiment was conducted in two locations in 2014 and 2015. Kaolin application was very effective in preventing medfly attacks until natural fruit drop in November. Kaolin treated fruit were harvested at th…

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Increasing Cold Tolerance of Cactus Pear Fruit by High-Temperature Conditioning and Film Wrapping

Pre-storage high-temperature conditioning (HTC, 38 °C, and 95% RH for 24 h) and individual film wrapping (IFW) with a perforated polyolefinic heat-shrinkable film were used as individual treatments or in combination to mitigate chilling injury of first crop cactus pear cv ‘Gialla’. The fruit was stored for 21 days at either 2 or 8 °C (CS) plus 1 week of simulated marketing conditions (SMC) at 20 °C. The reduction in peel disorders and decay in HTC-treated fruit stored at 2 °C was comparable to that detected in control fruit stored at 8 °C. IFW was more efficient than HTC in reducing peel disorders, almost completely inhibited weight loss, and preserved freshness in fruit st…

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Reducing postharvest decay in cactus pears by dip treatment with imazalil or azoxystrobin

Postharvest decay in cactus pear is a minor problem in fruit marketed directly after harvest, while it may represent a major cause of losses when fruit are cold stored or subjected to cold quarantine treatments. Unfortunately, to date, no postharvest fungicide has been registered to control postharvest decay of cactus pears. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two globally known fungicides, imazalil (IMZ) and azoxystrobin (AZO), registered for postharvest treatment of various fresh produce species, to control decay on cactus pears. Second-crop cactus pears ‘Gialla’ fruits were dipped in 500 mg L(‑1) IMZ or AZO and stored at 1 or 8°C and 90-95% RH for 2 or 3 wee…

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Effects of passive and active modified atmosphere packaging conditions on quality parameters of minimally processed table grapes during cold storage

BACKGROUND: Table grape is a non-climacteric berry, sensitive to water loss and gray mold during postharvest storage. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of passive and active modified atmosphere packaging on quality parameters of minimally processed table grapes. METHODS: 'Red Globe' minimally processed table grapes were dipped in a sodium hypochlorite solution and irradiated with ultraviolet-C, before being packaged in a rigid polypropylene boxes, sealed with a micro perforated polypropylene film (PP) or a continuous polyethylene film, with: a) 5% O2 + 15% CO2 + 80% N (PET1); b) 20% CO2 + air (PET2). Samples were stored at 5°C for 21 days plus and additional 6-day period at 20°C to simulate s…

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