Control of Diseases of Fruits and Vegetables by Postharvest Treatment

Abstract

Three classes of successful postharvest treatments have been developed over the years: chemical treatments to prevent infection and suppress development of the pathogen on the surface of the diseased host; heart to eradicate incipient infections; and gamma irradiation to inactivate or retard the development of deep-seated infections. All treatments must be regarded as ancillary to proper temperature management, which not only retards the development of diseases but also slows down the rate of natural physiological deterioration that begins at harvest. Sodium o-phenyl-phenate and 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroaniline may be cited as effective and practical fungicides with applications for several fruits which can be treated with water solutions after harvest. Gamma irradiation has been demonstrated to be effective for retarding the development of deep-seated fungus infections and this treatment should be a valuable adjunct to refrigeration in marketing highly perishable commodities such as the strawberry. The goal of eradicating deep seated infections can often not be achieved because the required irradiation dosages adversely affect the host. The use of radiation in combination with heat may substantially improve the therapeutic effect.