Film wrapping delays ageing of 'Minneola' tangelos under shelf-life conditions,

Fruits of 'Minneola' tangelo (Citrus paradisi 'Duncan' x Citrus reticulata 'Dancy') were dipped in water, 500 ppm sodium hypochlorite or 500 ppm imazalil and then left either unwrapped or wrapped with three plastic films of different permeabilities, The fruit were stored at 20 degrees C and 60% relative humidity (RH) and sampled at 10-day intervals for 1 month. Changes in characteristics of the juice (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, vitamin C, acetaldehyde, ethanol, methanol and ethyl acetate), weight loss, ageing, decay, firmness, respiration, ethylene evolution, and in-package gas composition, generally were delayed by the less permeable film. Decay caused by Penicillium digitatum was inhibited by imazalil, but not by sodium hypochlorite, An untrained test panel rated the fruits wrapped with the less permeable film the most acceptable, and the combination of this film with imazalil resulted in best overall fruit quality. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.