Metabolic stress disinfection and disinfestation (MSDD): a new, non‐thermal, residue‐free process for fresh agricultural products

Abstract

Abstract Physical manipulations generating cycles of expansion and compression forces were combined with low vapor concentrations of natural disinfecting chemicals to disinfect and disinfest simultaneously and rapidly fresh agricultural products. Lethality in various fungi, plant and human pathogens and in all biological stages of selected arthropods was demonstrated with fresh fruits and vegetables. The combined process modifies the respiratory metabolism, affects biological structures, causes displacement of the O 2 /CO 2 gaseous equilibrium and induces chemical toxicity at the cellular level. In aerobic microbes, oxygen metabolism is rapidly disrupted, causing biocidal effects. In larval, pupal and adult insect stages, irreversible structural damage of the tracheal system prevents the formation and causes the elimination of air reserves. In arthropod eggs, damage in essential structural features and dehydration of the chorion affect their ability to diffuse and use oxygen. The MSDD process is rapid (<4 h), effective (100% insect controls, >5 log 10 microbial reduction), reproducible, practical, economically competitive and applicable to large volumes of commodities. It causes minimal or no sensory/functional effects in host commodities. If developed commercially, it can be a single alternative to a broad spectrum of post‐harvest pesticides for disinfection and a likely alternative to methyl bromide fumigation or to irradiation for the post‐harvest control of arthropods. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry