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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Commodity Protection and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416118
Research Project: New Approaches to Enhance Fresh Fruit Quality and Control Postharvest Diseases

Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research

Title: Effects of ozone fumigation on the control of postharvest diseases of blueberries

Author
item Saito, Seiya
item Xiao, Chang-Lin

Submitted to: Acta horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/23/2025
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: California is a major producer of organic blueberries. Postharvest fruit rot diseases limit the storage and shelf life of fresh blueberries. Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria rot caused by Alternaria alternata are the two major postharvest diseases of blueberries in California. The blueberry industry needs tools to extend storage of organic blueberries. In this study, we evaluated the effects of continuous ozone fumigation on the control of fruit rots and fruit quality. Ozone fumigation significantly reduced the incidence of naturally occurring decayed fruit, but the effects varied. No distinct trend in fruit quality parameters could be attributed to ozone fumigation. Further research is needed to optimize the application of ozone treatment for extending storage and shelf life of blueberries.

Technical Abstract: Gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria rot caused by Alternaria alternata are the two major postharvest diseases of blueberries in California. The blueberry industry needs tools to extend storage of blueberries. In this study, we evaluated the effects of continuous ozone fumigation on 1) fruit-to-fruit spread (nesting) of gray mold on fruit inoculated with B. cinerea; 2) the control of Alternaria rot on fruit inoculated with A. alternata; 3) the control of naturally occurring postharvest fruit rot diseases; and 4) fruit quality. Seven concentrations of ozone 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 µl/l were tested on blueberries in two years. Generally, the better control of fruit-to-fruit spread of gray mold and Alternaria rot was achieved as the ozone concentration increased. Ozone fumigation significantly reduced the incidence of naturally occurring decayed fruit, but the effects varied. No distinct trend in fruit quality parameters could be attributed to ozone fumigation. Further research is needed to optimize the application of ozone treatment for extending storage and shelf life of blueberries.