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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148243
Title: CONTROL OF STORAGE-RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS OF 'D'ANJOU' PEARS BY INTEGRATED REDUCED DOSAGE OF ETHOXYQUIN AND LOW OXYGEN TREATMENT

Author
item MIELKE, EUGENE - OREGON STATE UNIV.
item Drake, Stephen

Submitted to: Journal of Food Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2004
Publication Date: 3/1/2005
Citation: Mielke, E.A., Drake, S.R. 2005. Control of storage-related physiological disorders of 'd'anjou' pears by integrated reduced dosage of ethoxyquin and low oxygen treatment. Journal of Food Quality. 17:471-482.

Interpretive Summary: The goal of commercial handling and storage practices for pears is to maintain pear fruits that are capable of ripening with good dessert quality without undesirable disorders. Scald, pithy brown core and skin black speck are three major physiological disorders developing on pear fruits during postharvest storage. Controlled atmosphere storage plus a line spray of 1,750 ppm ethoxyquin following 5 months of storage effectively controlled the development of scald for 5 months of controlled atmosphere storage, plus one month of regular atmosphere storage. This means that the fruit industry can greatly reduce the amount of ethoxyquin utilized in pear storage. Fruit stored for less than 5 months in controlled atmosphere and sold within one month of release from controlled atmosphere storage would need only one application of 1,750 ppm ethoxyquin as compared to the currently used practice of 2,750 ppm application. This could result in a 36% reduction in the amount of ethoxyquin used.

Technical Abstract: The ultimate goal of commercial handling and storage practices for winter pears is to maintain pear fruits that are capable of ripening with good dessert quality without suffering any undesirable disorders throughout the marketing season. Scald, pithy brown core and skin speckling are three major physiological disorders developing on pears during the postharvest storage period. Controlled atmosphere storage followed by a line spray of 1,750 ppm ethoxyquin effectively controlled the development of scald after 5 months of storage plus 1 month in regular atmosphere storage and 7 days of ripening. The addition of 1,000 ppm ethoxyquin drench prior to storage extended the period of effective scald control to 2 months of regular atmosphere storage following 5 months of controlled atmosphere storage. The utilization of 1.0% oxygen and 1.0% carbon dioxide in a flow-through system demonstrated that pears can be safely stored under these conditions without disorder development. A combination of controlled atmosphere storage and the use of ethoxyquin can eliminate physiological disorders in pears.