Abstract

ARIZA-FLORES, R. et al. Control of Anastrepha serpentina (Wiedemann) and quality of zapote mamey Pouteria sapota (Jacq) Moore & Stearn fruits treated with vapor heat. Rev. Chapingo Ser.Hortic [online]. 2009, vol.15, n.1, pp.9-15. ISSN 2007-4034.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate thermal treatments of vapor heat in the control of Anastrepha serpentina on zapote and to determine tolerance of zapote mamey fruits to the treatments. The fruits not were damaged internally by the heat treatment when exposed to 43 °C·120 min^-1. The fruits reached eating ripeness in 8 days at 25 °C, with rapid changes in the pulp color and weight loss. In contrast, at 10 °C they maintained greater firmness and prolonged shelf life, but exhibited greater damage in the vascular bundles. Mortality of the fruit fly eggs and larvae was 100% with controlled atmosphere vapor heat treatment at 43 °C·120 min^-1. Fruits not were damaged by the application vapor heat; larvae were easily killed by the CA at 40 °C·120 min^-1, but eggs were more resistant and hatched at 25 °C after the 8 days of storage.

Keywords : fly fruits of zapote; moist hot air treatments; controlled atmosphere; maturity fruits and shelf life.