Effect of Physical Methods on Date Fruits Insects and Microbes

Aims: Siwi dates fruits are infected with many pests, which leads to a high deficiency in the quality and safety of dates. The study aimed to investigate the possibility of three physical methods (freezing, gamma radiation, and ozone) as suitable methods for pest control. Study Design: Original research. Place and Duration Study:  The study was conducted in Giza, Egypt in season 2021. Methodology: In the first method, the date fruits were frozen at -18⁰C at different times (15, 30, 60,120,180, 240,300, and 360 min). In the second method, the date fruits were exposed to gamma rays in different doses as 25, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 grays. In the third method, the date fruits were exposed to different ozone concentrations of 200, 400, 600, and 800 ppm at different exposure periods (1, 2, 3, and 4 hrs.). Results: The data showed that freezing at -18⁰C for 5 hrs, radiation at a dose of 700 grays, and ozone at 800ppm for 4 hrs controlled insect stages and the microbial load of the sample date fruits, respectively. Conclusion: The obtained data revealed that freezing or ozone treatments were the suitable methods followed by radiation.