TOLERANCE AND RESPONSES OF HARVESTED MANGO TO INSECTICIDAL LOW-OXYGEN ATMOSPHERES

'Keitt' mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) were stored for 0 to 5 days at 20C in a continuous flow of an insecticidal low-O2 atmosphere (0.2% to 0.3%, balance N2). Fruit were evaluated every day after exposure to a low-O2 atmosphere and again after being held in air at 20C for 5 days. There was no fruit injury, organoleptic fruit quality was not lowered due to the low-O2 atmosphere, and fruit ripened normally. These results indicate that applying low-O2 atmospheres postharvest can be used to control insects in mangoes.