CONTROL OF DECAY IN MODIFIED-ATMOSPHERE PACKAGES OF SLICED APPLES USING 2-NONANONE VAPOR

A flow-through vapor exposure system was developed to evaluate the eff ects of 2-nonanone vapor on the decay of apple slices inoculated with Penicillium expansum Link. and Botrytis cinerea Pers. Treatments with 2-nonanone at 130 to 300 mu L (STP)/L of air at 23 degrees C retarded growth of fungi on PDA. At 300 mu L . L-1, fungal growth was completel y suppressed; however, it re-grew when transferred to air. At 5 degree s C, exposure to 50 mu L . L-1 suppressed, and at 100 mu L . L-1 appar ently killed, P. expansum on PDA and apple slices. For P. expansum at 5 degrees C, only 25% of the 2-nonanone used at 23 degrees C was neede d. Physiological damage occurred on the peel of treated apples.