TOLERANCE OF TROPICAL FRUITS AND A FLOWER TO CARBONYL SULFIDE FUMIGATION

The tolerance of 'Apple' banana (Musa sp.), avocado (Persea americana Mill.), mango (Mangifera indica L.), papaya (Carica papaya L.), and re d ginger (Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum) inflorescences to carb onyl sulfide (COS) fumigation was studied. Commodities were exposed at 25 degrees C to COS at various concentrations (1-6% (v/v) for banana; 1% and 2% for the other fruits for various times from 1 to 24 h. Fumi gation of bananas with 4% for 1.5 h, 2% for 2.5 h and 1% for 4 h did n ot cause significant skin or flesh injury when evaluated 7 d after tre atment. Fumigated bananas and mango softened faster than unfumigated f ruit when the treatment did not cause severe skin injury When the dosa ge and exposure time were increased for these fruit and the treatment caused severe or extreme skin injury, softening was delayed. COS treat ments retarded papaya fruit skin coloration and flesh softening, while it promoted avocado softening. Avocado tolerated 1% for 7 h and 2% fo r less than 4 h, while mango tolerated 1% for 3 h and 2% for 1 h and p apaya 1% for 16 h. Red ginger inflorescences were less tolerant of COS than fruit, being able to withstand 2% for less than 0.75 h and 1% fo r less than 2 h. COS may be suitable as a fumigant for surface insects on papaya and avocado. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B,V. All rights rese rved.