Modified atmosphere packaging using chlorine gas generators to prevent Botrytis cinerea on table grapes

Decay, caused by Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Fr., is the major sanitation pro blem of Chilean table grapes shipped to the USA, Europe and Asia. Postharve st treatments are compulsory to avoid significant losses. At present, this is achieved through the inclusion of one sulfur dioxide (SO2)-generator pad per box in combination with storage at 0 degrees C. Chlorine gas (Cl-2) pr oduced by a salt mixture and combined with 25 days of storage at 0 degrees C significantly (P < 0.05) reduced Botrytis decay in artificially inoculate d table grapes cvs. 'Flame Seedless','Thompson Seedless', and 'Ribier'. Inf ections by conidia or mycelium of B. cinerea, were suppressed for up to 45 days in cool storage, providing a similar degree of protection to that of o ne SO2-generator pad. Naturally infected grapes, from a commercial harvest developed significantly less Botrytis decay than controls upon arrival in t he USA after 25 days transportation. No deleterious effect due to chlorine gas generation was observed. These results suggest that this is a sound alt ernative to SO2 for postharvest control of decay in table grapes. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.