Abstract

The effectiveness of chitosan and hot water treatments, alone or in combination, to control storage decay of sweet cherries, (Prunus avium L.) was investigated. In single treatments, chitosan was applied by postharvest dipping or preharvest spraying at 0.5 and 1.0% concentrations; hot water treatments at were applied for 5 and 10 min. Sweet cherries were kept in storage at and 98% relative humidity. Rot incidence was evaluated after 30 and 60 days storage life. Chitosan and hot water treatments applied alone significantly reduced decay. A combined treatment with 0.5% chitosan and hot water at for 5 and 10 min after 30 days of storage life was the best in controlling decay. In addition to reducing postharvest decay, combined treatment with 0.5% chitosan and hot water at for 5 min after 60 days of storage life showed good result in compartion to other treatments. The results indicate that the combination of hot water and chitosan treatments is a valid strategy to improve the existing ones already used in controlling postharvest decay of sweet cherries.

Key words: Hot water, chitosan, sweet cherry, decay, storage.