REDUCING IRRADIATION DAMAGE TO ARKIN CARAMBOLA BY PLASTIC PACKAGING OR STORAGE-TEMPERATURE

Carambolas (Averrhoa carambola L.) require quarantine treatment for co ntrol of the Caribbean fruit fly (Anastrepha suspensa Loew) (CFF) prio r to shipment to certain domestic and export markets. Low-dose irradia tion, less than or equal to 1.0 kGy, is effective for sterilizing CFF and other fruit flies: however, carambolas are susceptible to irradiat ion-induced peel injury. Low-dose gamma irradiation treatment generall y reduced fruit quality, but the effects were mitigated by packaging c arambola fruit in ''clamshell'' polystyrene containers, rather than co nventional fiberboard boxes, prior to treatment. Use of clamshell cont ainers reduced peel pitting, stem-end breakdown, shriveling, and loss of mass after storage for 14 day at 5 or 7 degrees C. In addition, fru it held in clamshell containers were firmer, with slightly less green peel, and had lower total soluble solids, but the flavor was not quite as good as that of fruit stored in fiberboard boxes, There was no dif ference in the mastication texture or acidity of fruit by package type at final storage. Packing carambolas in clamshell containers increase d their tolerance to irradiation-induced peel disorders and improved t he potential for usage of low-dose irradiation for quarantine treatmen t.