When gamma radiation was proposed as a potential quarantine treatment for fruits in 1956, ARS scientists in Hawaii investigated its effects on fruit flies in papayas and other tropical fruits. McDonald said that though most of the research since then has dealt with insect mortality, some studies have evaluated the effect of irradiation on fruit quality. Any adverse change in shelf life, appearance, flavor, texture, aroma, or susceptibility to decay organisms constitutes damage, because these factors determine marketability. Preharvest factors like climate and cultural practices may influence a commodity's response to irradiation stress, he reported. The way radiation is administered can also affect the response.
Blueberries tolerate irradiation without adverse effects.
However, the effects of irradiation have not been studied for insect disinfestation for many other crops. Maturity of the commodity at harvest, time between harvest and treatment, and post-treatment storage conditions also need to be considered. Determine the physiological basis for conditioning. The conditioning phenomenon, a pretreatment process that has been found to reduce damage from heat and cold treatments, could alleviate some irradiation damage. The physiological and biochemical basis of irradiation damage needs to be determined.