The effect of postharvest UV-C treatment and associated with different storage conditions on the quality of Tahitian limes (Citrus latifolia)

Tahitian limes (Citrus latifolia) were exposed to 0 and 7.2 kJm-2 UV-C. After treatments, it was stored for 28 days in air at 20°C, 80% RH (control) and in air containing <0.005 or 0.1 μL.L−1 ethylene at 20°C and 100% RH. Weight loss, peel colour, calyx abscission, ethylene production, respiration rate, soluble solids content (SSC), titratable acidity (TA) and acceptability index were assessed. The UV-C light treatment significantly affected the quality of lime during storage. UV-C treatment significantly affected peel degreening at 20°C in all storage conditions, whereas treated limes showed significantly lower in peel degreening than the control. These effects reduced over the storage time, with the exception of fruits stored in <0.005 μL.L-1 ethylene which still produced a significantly higher in Hue value after 21 days storage relative to the control. UV-C treatment affected ethylene production during storage under all storage conditions. This effect also diminished with storage time. UV-C treatment did not affect the respiration rate, SSC or TA for all storage conditions. The UV-C treated limes had higher acceptability index than untreated limes up to 14 days storage at 20°C. Storage conditions significantly affected ethylene production, with limes that stored in air exhibiting higher ethylene production than fruits stored in the <0.005 or 0.1 μL.L-1 ethylene atmosphere. Storage conditions also significantly affected weight loss, with fruits stored in air showing greater weight loss compared to the other storage conditions. The results suggest that a pre-storage UV-C treatment, followed by storage in less than 0.1 μL.L-1 ethylene atmosphere improves the quality of limes postharvest.