Control of postharvest gray mold rot of modified atmosphere packaged sweet cherries by fumigation with thymol and acetic acid

Hedelfingen sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.) were inoculated with spores of Botrytis cinerea and then fumigated with 30 mg L−1.of thymol, acetic acid, or ethanol for 25 min before sealing in modified atmosphere packages and placing into cold storage. After 10 wk of storage, thymol or acetic acid reduced gray mold rot of B. cinerea inoculated cherries from 36 to 0.5% or 6%, respectively. Ethanol was not effective in controlling gray mold rot. Sweet cherries inoculated with B. cinerea and fumigated with thymol had lower total soluble solids, higher titratable acidity and higher stem browning than other treated or non-treated cherries. Key words: Cherry, fumigation, modified atmosphere packaging, storage, Botrytis cinerea