Y. Aharoni et al., HINOKITIOL (BETA-THUJAPLICIN), FOR POSTHARVEST DECAY CONTROL ON GALIAMELONS, New Zealand journal of crop and horticultural science, 21(2), 1993, pp. 165-169
'Galia' melons (Cucumis melo cv. Reticulatus) exported from Israel to
Europe are coated with wax containing 2000 ppm imazalil to control dec
ay-causing fungi (Alternaria alternata and Fusarium spp). The residual
level on the fruit is 3-5 ppm of imazalil, and exceeds the tolerance
levels of some countries (i.e., 0.5 ppm). In this study we test an alt
ernative treatment to imazalil. Hinokitiol (beta-thujaplicin), a volat
ile oil extracted from the Japanese Hiba tree (Thujopsis dolabrata), a
t a concentration of 750 ppm in the wax, controlled the decay-causing
fungi and had no phytotoxic effect on the fruit.