Effects of Excimer Fluorescent UV Lamps on Mold and Fruit Quality in Strawberries

Excimer fluorescent ultraviolet (UV) lamps (UV–228) function as mercury–free sources that use excimer emissions as excitation light sources. First, we evaluated the effects of UV–228–based irradiation (λ<sub>max</sub> = 228 nm) on the viability of fungi, using <i>Penicillium digita...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yujiro Takano, Ryuta Ninohei, Ayano Koike, Izumi Serizawa, Yuya Mochizuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:AgriEngineering
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2624-7402/6/4/278
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Summary:Excimer fluorescent ultraviolet (UV) lamps (UV–228) function as mercury–free sources that use excimer emissions as excitation light sources. First, we evaluated the effects of UV–228–based irradiation (λ<sub>max</sub> = 228 nm) on the viability of fungi, using <i>Penicillium digitatum</i>, and compared these effects with those of other light sources, such as OEL–222 (λ<sub>max</sub> = 222 nm) and GL–6 (λ<sub>max</sub> = 254 nm), to evaluate the effectiveness of the excimer fluorescent lamp. Next, we investigated the effects of UV–228–based irradiation on strawberry storage. Although UV–228 affected weight loss, Brix, ascorbic acid, polyphenol, and DPPH, the effects of UV irradiation for 5 min on strawberry fruit quality were minimal; i.e., only weight loss and ascorbic acid content were higher than those in the non–irradiated treatment. We found that 5 min of UV–C irradiation using UV–228 prevented mold emergence for up to 11 days of storage in strawberries These results indicate that UV–228 contributes to long–term strawberry storage.
ISSN:2624-7402