The data for 1938 (table 4) indicate that in general there were fewer 

 lenticel infections and less total decay in fruit held 3 days in the 

 warehouse than in that stored immediately; the differences were 

 much greater with washed than with unwashed fruit. Usually some- 

 what larger percentages of the fruit held 3 days than of that stored 

 immediately were infected at points other than lenticels. 



Table 4. — Effect of various washing and 'packing treatments on blue mold decay 

 in Delicious apples harvested Oct. 6, 1938 



[Fruit washed in a flood washer, first with sodium silicate (80 pounds to 100 gallons) at 100° and then with 

 1.5-percent hydrochloric acid at 80°, dipped in a water suspension of hlue mold spores, packed in oiled 

 wrappers, and stored at 32° until Mar. 15, 1939. In each treatment 200-fruit samples were used. All 

 temperatures in °F.] 





Blue mold decay 





When removed from cold storage 





Time and type of handling 



At lenticels 



Fruits in- 

 fected at 

 other 

 points 



Fruits 

 infected 



After 6 

 addition- 

 al days 

 at 65° 





Mean in- 

 fections 

 per 50 fruits 



Fruits 

 infected 



Wet when packed: 

 Day after harvest: 



Unwashed .... 



Number 

 3.3 

 30.5 



3.3 



7.8 



0.0 

 1.3 



1.0 

 6.0 



9.5 

 34.0 



3.0 

 12.0 



1.3 

 0.8 



1.0 



6.8 



Percent 

 6.5 

 39.0 



5.5 

 11.0 



0.0 

 2.5 



2.0 

 10.5 



14.0 

 43.0 



6.0 

 19.0 



2.5 

 1.5 



1.5 

 11.0 



Percent 



5.0 

 5.0 



9.0 

 7.5 



10.0 

 7.5 



3.5 



4.0 



6.0 

 10.0 



7.5 

 5.0 



12.5 

 9.0 



5.5 

 3.5 



Percent 

 11.5 

 44.0 



14.5 

 18.5 



10.0 

 10.0 



5.5 

 14.5 



20.0 

 53.0 



13.5 

 24.0 



15.0 

 10.5 



7.0 

 14.5 



Percent 

 12.0 





45.5 



After 3 days in warehouse: 



15.0 





20.0 



After 2 weeks at 32°: 



11.5 





12.0 



After 10 weeks at 32°: 



Unwashed 



Washed __ _ __ _ _ 



7.0 



17.5 



Dry when packed: 

 Day after harvest: 



21.5 





53.5 



After 3 days in warehouse: 



14.5 



Washed _________ 



27.0 



After 2 weeks at 32°: 



16.5 





11.0 



After 10 weeks at 32°: 



9.0 





15,5 







Again in 1939 and 1940 (table 5) there were fewer lenticel and total 

 infections in fruit held 3 days in the warehouse than in comparable 

 fruit stored immediately. A delay in the warehouse apparently 

 increases the resistance of the fruit to blue mold infection by reducing 

 the number of open lenticels (table 1) and by decreasing the suscep- 

 tibility of the fruit to washing injury. These results are in accord with 

 those obtained by Baker and Heald (2) with fruit delayed in the orchard 

 prior to storage. 



704865°— 46 2 



