Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.5.
Conclusions and recommendations on the use of MA/CA for some
tropical fruit crops.
Atmosphere
Fruit
Intended use
%O
2
%CO
2
Degree of bene
fi
ts
Avocado
Transport, MAP
2-5
3-10
Good
Banana
Transport, MAP, storage
2.5
2.5
Excellent
Cherimoya
Transport, storage
2-5
3-10
Good
Durian
Transport
3-5
10-20
Fair
Lanzon
Transport
5
0
Fair
Litchi
Packaging, transport
5
20
Good
Mango
Transport
3-5
5-10
Good
Mangosteen
Transport
2
10
Fair
Papaya
Transport
2-5
5-8
Fair
Pineapple
Transport
2-5
5-10
Not determined
Sapodilla
Not determined
5
10
Fair
Sweetsop
Not determined
5
10
Fair
constraints such as chilling sensitivity, short postharvest life, and disease and
insect infestations.
It is essential to assure a sui ciently long postharvest life for tropical
fruits to be able to be distributed in distant markets. The minimum times
required for sea freight from eastern Australia to South-east Asia, Japan and
North America, and Europe are 3, 4 and 6 weeks, respectively. Minimum
shipping periods from Mexico to Europe and Japan are about 18 and 21 days,
respectively. In addition to better postharvest handling systems (i.e. optimum
harvesting time, control of insects and diseases, and the use of proper
postharvest temperature management), MA and CA can be of major benefi t to
preserve quality and to prolong postharvest life.
For example, MA has been used for more than 30 years during banana
transport from Central America to the rest of the world. Advances in MA/CA
technology during transport have been implemented, and the technology is
much more promising for tropical fruits. Atmospheres for transport have been
developed that are passive (MA), semi-active or active (CA). The semi-active
systems are those in which a selected atmosphere is created in the container
immediately after loading, after which the container is closed and no further
control of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels is carried out. Atmospheres are
created by an oxygen sensor telling a valve to open or close to allow more air to
enter the container to increase the oxygen level, or nitrogen to reduce oxygen
levels. Carbon dioxide can also be monitored and a valve controls the amount
of air entering to prevent the carbon dioxide from getting higher than the
desired level.
The major question is whether the additional costs of applying the
MA or CA treatments are recovered in the increased storage life and quality
