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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Wenatchee, Washington » Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #165423
Title: CONTROL OF STORAGE-RELATED PHYSIOLOGICAL DISORDERS OF 'D'ANJOU' PEARS BY INTEGRATED REDUCED DOSAGE OF ETHOXYQUIN AND LOW OXYGEN TREATMENTS.

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

Submitted to: Journal of Food Quality
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/2/2004
Publication Date: 12/1/2004
Citation: Mielke, E.A., Drake, S.R. 2004. Control of storage-related physiological disorders of 'd'anjou' pears by integrated reduced dosage of ethoxyquin and low oxygen treatments.. Journal of Food Quality. 27:471-482.

Interpretive Summary: The 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 developing undesirable disorders. Superficial scald is a major disorder that can develop in the long-term storage of 'd'Anjou' pears. Atmosphere manipulation and use of ethoxyquin are the acceptable methods for control of this disorder. Reduction in the use of ethoxyquin would be advantageous. This study was initiated to determine the relationship between flow-through controlled atmosphere storage systems and the amount of ethoxyquin required to effectively control superficial scald. A pre-storage drench of 1000 ppm ethoxyquin controlled the development of scald for 1 month in regular atmosphere storage following 5 months of controlled atmosphere storage. The pre-storage drench of 1,000 ppm ethoxyquin was not effective in controlling superficial scald after 7 months in controlled atmosphere storage. Application of 17,750 ppm ethoxyquin following 5 months in controlled atmosphere storage was effective in controlling superficial scald for 2 additional months in controlled atmosphere followed by one month in regular atmosphere storage. Controlled atmosphere storage of 5 months, followed by a line spray of 1,750 ppm ethoxyquin, effectively controlled the development of superficial scald for 3 additional months. Fruit stored for less than 5 months in controlled atmosphere and sold within one month of release from controlled atmosphere storage need only an applicaiton of 1,000 ppm ethoxyquin. This represents a 36% reduction in the use of ethoxyquin.

Technical Abstract: A 1,000 ppm ethoxyquin drench containng 528 ppm thiobendazol (TBZ) fungicide prior to controlled atmosphere (CA) storage effectively controlled the development of superficial scald (SS) for 1 month regular air (RA) storage following 5 months CA storage. The preharvest drench was not effective in controlling the development of SS in fruit returned to RA storage following 7 months CA storage. Application of a 1,750 ppm ethoxyquin line spray (without TBZ) following 5 months CA storage effectively extended the control of SS to 2 months under RA conditions. The 1,750 ppm ethoxyquin line spray was effective in controlling SS for 1 month RA storage following an addlitional 2 months CA storage period. This represents a 36% reduction in the amount of ethoxyquin currently used on fruit stored for short periods of time. Minor, non-commerical amounts of Pithy Brown Core (PBC) developed during storage, demonstrating that 1% O2 and 1% CO2 in a flow-through system demonstrated that fruit can be safely utilized for the storage of pears. Growing location (Oregon vs. Washington) made no difference in the sensitivity to CO2 injury and packing and handling damage.