Journal Of Applied Horticulture ISSN: 0972-1045



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Leon, D M; Ortega, D A; Cabrera, H; Cruz, J de la; Parkin, K L; Garcia, H S

UNIDA, Instituto Tecnologico de Veracruz, Apdo. Postal 1420, Veracruz, Ver. 91860, Mexico.

Key words: carbon dioxide, chemical composition, colour, controlled atmosphere storage, crop quality, disinfestation, fruits, insect pests, larvae, mangoes, oxides, pest control, pH, postharvest treatment, reducing sugars, sensory evaluation, spongy tissue, storage

Journal of Applied Horticulture, 2000, volume 2, issue 2, pages 71-75.

Abstract: Manila mangoes were infested in the tree by allowing fertile Anastrepha obliqua female flies to oviposit on fruits contained inside cages. Infested mangoes were exposed to nine different controlled atmospheres (CA) containing combinations of 1, 3, or 5% O2 and 30, 50, or 70% CO2. Surviving larvae were enumerated after subjecting the mangoes to CA for 1 to 5 days. Selected compositional and physical parameters (weight loss, pH, titratable acidity, colour, soluble solids, reducing sugars, and texture) were analysed during post-treatment ripening. Fully ripened fruits were also subject to sensory evaluation using a non-structured hedonic scale and a trained panel. CA containing 1% O2 and either 30 or 50% CO2 effectively killed all larvae present in treated fruits. These treatments did not alter the composition or sensory characteristics of fully ripened mangoes. However, losses of 20 to 25% of fruits on the basis of sensory acceptability were attributed to the development of "spongy" tissue. CAs containing 70% C



Journal of Applied Horticulture