OVERCOMING FUMIGATION DAMAGE OF ´FUJI´ APPLES DESTINED FOR JAPAN

‘Fuji’ apples have been exported from Tasmania to Japan since 1999. This required the development of a fumigation protocol to eliminate live codling moth from the fruit.
In the 2001 and 2003 marketing seasons, methyl bromide (MeBr) scald developed on some lines of fruit.
In 2002, internal damage developed after fumigation and during transport to Japan.
Additionally, MeBr caused an increase in the number of fruit with stain in 2002 and 2003. This caused major restrictions in the marketability of fruit in Japan and these disorders need to be eliminated if the market is to be maintained.
The aim of the previous three years of investigation on the supply chain of ‘Fuji’ apples to Japan was to examine the potential impact of each step on the appearance of fumigation disorders and to research potential methods to overcome the problems.
Harvest maturity was an important factor in the development of these disorders; the more mature the fruit, the greater it’s susceptibility to damage.
The grader also had a significant impact on the fruit, particularly after the application of wax.
A number of pre-fumigation storage temperatures were examined, and the fruit that was stored at 5°C appeared to have the lowest incidence of damage.
Post-harvest drenches were effective in reducing the incidence of scald and to a lesser extent internal damage.

V International Postharvest Symposium

L.J. Schimanski, D. Jennings, G. Brown

pomefruit, methyl bromide, scald, internal damage, stain, maturity, grading

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.682.157