Conditioning with hot air reduces heat damage caused to 'Kensington' mango (Mangifera indica Linn.) by hot water disinfestation treatment

Abstract

Hot water treatment (HWT) offers a cost-effective method for fruit fly disinfestation but may cause injury to 'Kensington' mango (Mangifera indica Linn.). Conditioning fruit with hot air before disinfestation may alleviate these injuries. Fruit from 2 major production regions in Queensland were subjected to conditioning treatments with hot air (38-40¦C) for 0, 4,8, 12, and 16 h before HWT (fruit core temperature of 45¦C held for 30 min). Injuries to fruit not conditioned before HWT included accentuated lenticel spotting, external and internal cavities, and a starchy layer beneath the skin. Fruit conditioned for 8 or 12 h before HWT had minimal injuries. Conditioning with hot air before HWT has the potential to minimise and/or eliminate heat injuries associated with hot water disinfestation treatment. Further testing, particularly on a commercial scale, will be required to optimise these conditioning treatments for use by the Australian mango industry.