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Submitted to: Acta Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2015 Publication Date: 10/1/2017 Citation: Wall, M.M., Follett, P.A. 2017. Quality of mixed tropical fruit following irradiation treatment. Acta Horticulturae. 1178.18:99-104. Interpretive Summary: Irradiation can be used to control quarantine insect pests of fresh fruits and vegetables, but the quality of irradiated produce determines market acceptance. The quality and ripening of diverse assortments of tropical fruit were determined following irradiation treatment as single or mixed fruit boxes. The tropical fruit had similar radiation tolerance when treated as single commodities or as mixtures, with few exceptions. Bananas, longans, and pineapples tolerated 400 Gy, but exhibited some peel damage at higher doses (800 Gy). In single or mixed fruit boxes, papayas, dragon fruit, and mangos tolerated x-ray radiation at 800 Gy. This combination has potential as a high-value mixed fruit box that would diversify markets for tropical fruit growers. Technical Abstract: Irradiation can be used to control quarantine insect pests of fresh fruits and vegetables. The economic viability of irradiation improves if a diversity of crops can be treated, but the quality of irradiated produce determines market acceptance. Many tropical fruit tolerate irradiation doses less than 1000 Gy. To date, quarantine treatments to disinfest fresh commodities have been approved for single commodities alone, but irradiation treatment for high-value, mixed tropical fruit boxes has been proposed for export approval. The quality and ripening of mixed-fruit combinations were compared to single fruit types after x-ray irradiation treatment at 0, 400 and 800 Gy. Diverse assortments of papaya, banana, dragon fruit, mango, longan, lychee, and pineapple were evaluated for ripening, weight loss, quality, disease, peel injury, color, firmness, soluble solids, and acidity after x-ray treatment, storage at 10°C, and ripening at 22°C. The tropical fruit had similar radiation tolerance when treated as single or mixed fruit boxes, with few exceptions. Bananas treated in mixed boxes with papaya and longan had greater peel injury at 800 Gy than bananas treated as a single commodity. Pineapples treated in combination with papaya and dragon fruit at 800 Gy had more disease than when treated as a single fruit type. Radiated lychees and longans had darker peels and softer arils than untreated fruit. In single or mixed fruit boxes, papayas, dragon fruit, and mangos tolerated x-ray radiation at 800 Gy. This combination has potential as a high-value mixed fruit box that would diversify markets for tropical fruit growers. |
