Good results with hot water to control avocado postharvest diseases

Postharvest hot water treatment has been used intensively for disinfestation and disinfection of a wide variety?of crops against a wide range of pests and diseases, offering a pesticide-free option to control postharvest?diseases. The objective of this study is to optimise a hot water technology to offer fast and effective control of?postharvest decay of avocado fruit. Initially, we exposed avocado fruit to hot water in a series of temperature?and time combinations: 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 ?C (? 0.1 ?C) x 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105, 120?and 180 seconds, to evaluate avocado skin sensitivity to heat treatments. Subsequent trials for disease control?used temperatures of control (room temperature), 52, 54, 56 and 58 ?C (? 0.1 ?C) x control (0), 10, 15, 20?and 30 seconds. A third series of tests used control (room temperature), 50, 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, 66,?68 and 70 ?C (? 0.1 ?C) x control (0), 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 seconds to determine optimum disease control in the?shortest time. The best disease control of 60-100% was achieved by 70 ?C x 6 seconds and 56 ?C x 10 seconds.To counteract future infections of the host fruit, integration of rapid hot water treatment and biological control?yeasts can be ideal for the preservation of fruit freshness until consumption. The before text is the Abstract of the paper; as Conclusions, the authors indicate:The study demonstrates that rHWT can provide excellent control of avocado fruit decay, comparable?with that provided by the fungicide Prochloraz. Further studies on the effects of rHWT on the physiology,?pathology, biochemistry and molecular biology of avocado are called for (Lurie, 1998; Fallik, 2004; Sivakumar and Fallik, 2013). Additionally, rHWT typically?controls existing or latent infections but does not?protect the fruit subsequently in the period between?packing and consumption. Therefore, integrated disease management combining the use of rHWT with?a yeast biocontrol agent to prevent future infections?may be ideal in providing long-term disease control?for avocado fruit (Palou, 2009). ? SourcesReduction of postharvest avocado fruit decay by optimised rapid hot water treatmentMajola, T.F. and Laing, M.D. South African Avocado Growers Association Yearbook 45, 2022https://www.avocadosource.com/Journals/SAAGA/SAAGA_2022/SAAGA_2022_45_PG_56_5.pdf Picture,?XEDA Hydroheater