COM 0212.318 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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f University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department of Plant Molecular Ph}'siologv 3190 Maile Way • St. John 503 • Honolulu. Hain afi 96822 Telephone: (808) 956-8384 • Facsimile: (808) 956-3542 April 2, 1997 Alice Suncloud P.O. Box 7 Kurtistown, HI 96720 Dear Ms. Suncloud, Your FAX of March 27 is acknowledged. Before answering your questions, I wish to first indicate that I support irradiation. Irradiation is a technology that is crucial to address a number of up to now intractable problems. I am somewhat annoyed that I am being quoted out of context. It seems that there is a failure to understand that the postharvest handling of fruits, vegetables and ornamentals is a system. Irradiation fits into that system and cannot be fully discussed in isolation. In the case of agricultural commodities; fruit, vegetables, spice and ornamentals, irradiation can play a very significant role in expanding Hawaii diversified agriculture. Irradiation of papaya, litchi, rambutan, atemoya and a number of other fruit crops has no significant postharvest problems at the doses preposed for insect disinfestation. There can be minor difficulties, but these are manageable; current handling practices are similarly affected by related problems. Some crops are not suited for irradiation using current technology, as they display injury symptoms. However, what has not been studied in detail are approaches eu ameliorating these symptoms. Ginger is not an ideal crop for irradiation from the point of view of economics. Cooling of the rhizomes is still required for long term storage. In our studies, we looked at irradiation and holding at room temperature. Iirradiations under those conditions is not effective at stopping initial sprout growth. Studies are still needed on irradiation and coot storage. Four attempt to use the data to put a cloud upon the use of irradiation for ginger indicates a very narrow perspective of postharvest handling decision making. I have done no work on potted plants or nematodes. It may have possibilities and a complete review of the literature would be an obvious first step.