Chilling Injury and Decay of Grapefruit as Affected by Thiabendazole, Benomyl, and CO21

Abstract

Chilling injury (CI) of ‘Marsh Seedless’ grapefruit was reduced by a preharvest spray of benomyl (Benlate) but not of Vapor Gard (VG) pinolene antitranspirant Postharvest treatments with benomyl and thiabendazole (TBZ) also reduced CI. The effect of high CO2 atmospheres (up to 20%) induced under 0.0254 mm (1 mil) PVC film varied sharply with picking date. CI was almost eliminated in such atmospheres in early and midseason pickings but accentuated in the late (postbloom) picking. Modified atmospheres tended to increase decay regardless of picking date.

Preferred Temperature for Prestorage Conditioning of ‘Marsh’ Grapefruit to Prevent Chilling Injury at Low Temperatures

“…Growth regulators applied preharvest, as well as postharvest, alter the susceptibility of the fruit to CI (7). Pre-and postharvest application of benomyl (13) and postharvest applications of thiabendazole (12) reduced CI, whereas diphenyl pads increased the in jury (8). Raising the relative humidity (RH) to 100% during storage (9), as well as in termittent warming (5), greatly reduced CI.…”

Effects of Ethylene on Chilling Injury and Subsequent Decay of Conditioned Early ‘Marsh’ Grapefruit during Low-temperature Storage1,2

“…These reports indicate that resistance to Cl in grapefruit increases from the early picking season (September and Oc tober), but decreases from midseason (Feb ruary and March) to late in the season (May and June). Postharvest application of the fun gicides benomyl and thiabendazole reduced Cl in Florida grapefruit (14). Commercially, early degreened fruit would not be stored, but 'E th y lene dispensed at 3 ppm at 29° and a relative humidity of 90 to 95Vr.…”