Plant Pathology (2000) 49, 333-338

E. Fallik, Y. Aharoni, A. Copel, V. Rodov, S. Tuvia-Alkalai, B. Horev, O. Yekutieli, A. Wiseblum and R. Regev (2000)
Reduction of postharvest losses of Galia melon by a short hot-water rinse
Plant Pathology 49 (3), 333-338
Abstract: A rapid method for simultaneously rinsing and disinfecting fresh harvested produce using a hot-water rinse and brushes (HWRB) was tested on Galia melon (Cucumis melo cv. reticulatus) fruit. The optimal treatment to reduce decay while maintaining fruit quality after prolonged storage and marketing simulation was 59 ± 1°C for 15 s. Trial shipments by sea transport to Europe demonstrated that treating melon with a commercial-scale HWRB machine (3 tonnes fruit h^-1) maintained significantly better overall quality of treated fruit compared with untreated fruit. Exposing spores of Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani to 60°C for about 15 s in vitro reduced germination by 48% and 42%, respectively. Employing HWRB resulted in a 3-log reduction in total colony-forming units (CFU) of the epiphytic microbial population, compared with untreated fruit. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that HWRB removed soil, dust and fungal spores from the fruit surface, and partially or entirely sealed natural openings in the epidermis.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Alternaria alternata	Stored fruits/vegetables	Israel
	Neocosmospora solani	Stored fruits/vegetables	Israel