Journal of Applied Horticulture. 2000: 2(2): 71-75

Postharvest disinfestation of mango (Mangifera indica cv. Manila) with controlled atmospheres

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.

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% CO2 were also effective in disinfestation, but also affected compositional and sensory qualities of the fruits and induced the "spongy" texture defect in 65% of the fruits.