Control of postharvest gray mold rot of modified atmosphere packaged sweetcherries by fumigation with thymol and acetic acid

Hedelfingen sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) were inoculated with spores of Botrytis cinerea and then fumigated with 30 mg L-1 of thymol, acetic acid, or ethanol for 25 min before sealing in modified atmosphere packages and p lacing into cold storage. After 10 wk of storage, thymol or acetic acid red uced gray mold rot of B, cinerea inoculated cherries from 36 to 0.5% or 6%, respectively. Ethanol was not effective in controlling gray mold rot. Swee t cherries inoculated with B. cinerea and fumigated with thymol had lower t otal soluble solids, higher titratable acidity and higher stem browning tha n other treated or non-treated cherries.