Early detection of grey mould development in tomato after harvest

Abstract The production of acetaldehyde, ethanol, ethylene and carbon dioxide by ripening tomatoes at 22 °C was measured following inoculation with a spore suspension of Botrytis cinerea. The aim was to determine whether infections could be detected before the disease symptoms became evident. Decay became visible between days 2 and 3 following inoculation. However, ethylene could be detected more than 24 h before the first decay symptom was visible. A marked increased in CO 2 could be detected only at day 4 from inoculation and was associated with decay development. Acetaldehyde evolution in Botrytis -inoculated fruit increased from day 3 to 5 from inoculation and then declined, while a marked increase in ethanol evolution was detected from day 5 only. Ethylene might be used as an early marker for infection in harvested fresh produce.