Project Number: 5302-43000-032-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Jan 01, 2000
End Date: Dec 31, 2004

Objective:
Continue a project to evaluate ozone for use on fresh fruit and nuts to control pests of the commodities following harvest. Acquire and fabricate test equipment, develop ozone detection methodology and establish the efficacy of various dosages of ozone to eliminate pathogens from several commodities. Determine if ozone has potential to replace current methodology in postharvest treatments. Establish the benefits and disadvantages of using ozone for postharvest treatments.

Approach:
Laboratory bench-scale and semi-commercial scale equipment to generate and to apply ozone in water or ozone in air will be fabricated or acquired. The influence of many practical and environmental parameters, such as the duration of contact, temperature, and humidity, on ozone toxicity to a variety of food-borne spoilage pathogens will be determined in series of factorial bench-scale experiments. The tolerance of fresh fruits to ozone applied at rates that control these fungi will be determined. Promising treatments, namely those where control of spoilage organisms occur without significant injury to the treated commodities, will be candidates for progressively larger experiments and technology transfer activities. We will rigorously evaluate these applications in semi-commercial scale tests at our facility and seek commercial food processors to collaborate in trials in operating plants. Documents Trust with UC-Davis Log 17261. Formerly 5302-43000-025-02R (10/02).

Project Team

Smilanick, Joseph - Joe

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001   FY 2000

Related National Programs

Plant Diseases (303)   Quality and Utilization of Agricultural Products (306)