369 the Influence of Pre-and Postharvest Treatments on Washington Navel Orange

Abstract

<jats:p>Different treatments were carried out inluding that achieved in the modern packing houses which are established for preparing citrus fruits for export. Decay of Washington navel oranges was reduced due to spraying benlate at 500 and 750 ppm as a preharvest treatment. Fruits coated with thin film of wax containing benlate were less susceptible to decay than any other treatment including that carried out in the packing houses. On the other hand no adverse effect could be noticed for this treatment on the chemical properties of the fruils. Thereby, the disinfectant process which is followed by rinsing could be eliminated, conseqently, raising the productive capacity of these packing houses.</jats:p>