Apple and pear storage without diphenylamine (DPA) and post-harvest fungicide drenches — dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA), hot-water dipping, pre-harvest biocontrol and orchard sanitation
Diphenylamine (DPA) drenches against superficial scald; post-harvest fungicide drenches (thiabendazole, fludioxonil, pyrimethanil, imazalil); ethoxyquin (historic scald inhibitor)
Suppliers 1
| UPL Limited (NSE) | India | active |
Route into Russia / EAEU EAC
- Regulator
- EAEU accredited bodies / Rosakkreditatsiya
- Typical time
- declaration registered within 3 working days (testing extra); certification longer
- Legal basis
- EAEU technical regulations (TR CU 010/2011, 004/2011, 020/2011); EEC Board Decision No. 41 (20.03.2018) on registering declarations
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product.
Proof 5 claims
Postharvest drenching with the antioxidant diphenylamine (DPA).
Dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) storage, initial low oxygen stress (ILOS), and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP).
- Displaced at scale?
- partly
- Caveats
- While technologies like dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) have been proven effective and implemented in specific regions like South Tyrol, Italy, there is no evidence of a complete global or industry-wide displacement of DPA. Many regions, such as South Africa, have reported that no effective non-chemical method for controlling superficial scald is currently available for their producers.
- Hand review
- D2 EU: DPA replaced by storage technologies on ~1/10 of the apple-producing area (2013).
- checked
- 2026-10-06
| The feasibility of replacing DPA in commercial practice was proven in the 2010-11 storage season for the approximately 1 million tons of apple fruit produced in South Tyrol, Italy. “The feasibility of replacing completely DPA in practice got proved already in the storage season 2010-11 by the ≈1 mio. tons apple fruit producing area in the South Tyrol (Italy).” South Tyrol, Italy · 2010-11 storage season · large measured reduction of the old process | weak (company, news, market research, other) ✓ ishs.org |
| The economic impact of the DPA ban on the Portuguese pear industry was estimated at 22 to 39 million euros, or 16 to 28% of the crop value, in 2010. “In 2010, the economic impact of the ban on DPA on the Portuguese pear industry was estimated in 22 to 39 million euros, i.e., 16 to 28% of the crop value, and the industry was caught without alternatives.” Portugal · 2010 · | weak (company, news, market research, other) ✓ researchportal.ulisboa.pt |
| The primary drivers for the switch away from DPA are the EU ban on its use and the reduction of maximum residue levels (MRLs) due to toxicity and consumer concerns. “Although DPA is highly effective in controlling superficial scald, environmental concerns have been raised regarding its use. As a result, the European Union (EU) Commission reduced the MRL from 5 parts per million (ppm) to 0.1ppm (APAL, 2013; Crouch and Taylor, 2013).” · 2013 onwards · | weak (company, news, market research, other) ✓ scholar.sun.ac.za |
| The use of novel storage technologies, including DCA, has replaced DPA postharvest treatment in approximately 1/10th of the EU's apple-producing area. “Replacing DPA postharvest treatment by strategical application of novel storage technologies controls scald in 1/10th of EU’s apples producing area” EU · 2013 · minority but measured share or volume | government or intergovernmental ✓ agris.fao.org |
| In the South Tyrol region of Italy, DPA has not been used for 3 years as of the time of the report. “Data will be shown on the transition to CA-based technologies to control superficial scald in the apple industry of South Tyrol, Italy, where DPA has not been used for 3 years.” South Tyrol, Italy · 2013-2014 (approximate) · large measured reduction of the old process | weak (company, news, market research, other) ✓ ishs.org |
References 3
- Wright AH, Delong JM, Arul J, Prange RK (2015). The trend toward lower oxygen levels during apple (*Malus* × *domestica* Borkh.) storage — a review. *Journal of VERIFIED DOI · cited by 94
- Maxin P, Weber RWS, Pedersen HL, Williams M (2012). Control of a wide range of storage rots in naturally infected apples by hot-water dipping and rinsing. *Post VERIFIED DOI · cited by 56
- European Commission (2012). Non-approval of the active substance diphenylamine under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (EU Pesticides Database). NOT CHECKED — regulation …
Details
Replaces: diphenylamine and post-harvest fungicide drenches · Products: apples, pears · Evidence: high
The chemical problem#
Superficial scald (a browning of apple skin during long storage) was prevented for decades with diphenylamine (DPA) drenches. The EU did not approve DPA (2012), partly because of the potential formation of nitrosamines, and the MRL was set at 0.1 mg/kg. Post-harvest fungicide drenches (thiabendazole and others) leave residues on ready-to-eat fruit, and the recirculated drench liquid spreads Penicillium spores and resistance.
Product overview#
- Dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA): oxygen is lowered to just above the fruit’s anaerobic limit (about 0.4–0.8 % O₂), controlled in real time by chlorophyll fluorescence (HarvestWatch, DCA-CF), respiratory quotient (RQ) or ethanol sensors. DCA prevents superficial scald without DPA and keeps firmness. It is used commercially in Europe (e.g. South Tyrol, the Netherlands, Belgium) and North America, including in organic apple storage.
- Hot-water dipping or rinsing (about 50–54 °C for 2–3 min, or rinsing at 55 °C for seconds) against storage rots (Neofabraea bull’s-eye rot, Penicillium, Colletotrichum). A standard in organic apple storage in Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
- Pre-harvest biocontrol (Aureobasidium pullulans, Boni Protect) and orchard sanitation (removing mummified fruit and cankers), which reduce storage-rot inoculum.
- 1-MCP (1-methylcyclopropene) is an effective scald and ripening inhibitor. It is a synthetic, but low-residue and low-toxicity gas; mentioned for completeness as a non-bio option.
Active ingredient / Composition#
Nitrogen (from membrane or PSA generators) and CO₂ for the atmosphere; fluorescence or RQ sensors; hot water.
Key facts#
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Class | Physical storage technology + hot water + biocontrol |
| DCA O₂ | About 0.4–0.8 % (cultivar-specific, sensor-guided) |
| Hot water | About 50–54 °C, 2–3 min dip (cultivar-specific), or brief hot rinses |
| Residues | None |
Advantages#
- Zero chemical residues with long storage (9–12 months) and good quality.
- DCA slows ripening, so firmness and acidity are kept better than in standard CA.
- Enables organic long-term storage.
Mode of action#
- DCA: very low O₂ suppresses the formation of α-farnesene oxidation products (conjugated trienols) that cause scald, and slows respiration and ethylene action.
- Hot water: kills latent infections in lenticels and on the surface, and induces resistance.
Application#
| Fruit | Target | Measure | Specifics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scald-sensitive apples (e.g. Granny Smith, Red Delicious), pears | Superficial scald | DCA with fluorescence or RQ monitoring | Airtight rooms; cultivar-specific O₂ set-points |
| Apples (organic/conventional) | Bull’s-eye rot, Penicillium, Gloeosporium | Hot-water dip or rinse before storage | Validate temperature and time per cultivar to avoid heat damage |
| Orchard | Storage-rot inoculum | A. pullulans pre-harvest; remove mummies and cankers | – |
| Packing line | Wounds | Gentle handling; clean water flumes (e.g. with continuous filtration) | – |
Limitations#
- DCA requires airtight rooms, sensors and trained operators; a mistake risks anaerobic damage (off-flavours).
- Hot-water treatment needs precise temperature control and cultivar calibration.
Evidence of displacement — D2: measurable displacement (minority share)#
Assessment (hand-reviewed): EU: DPA replaced by storage technologies on ~1/10 of the apple-producing area (2013).
Verified figures (the number is in the quoted sentence and the sentence is on the source page):
- displacement — The use of novel storage technologies, including DCA, has replaced DPA postharvest treatment in approximately 1/10th of the EU’s apple-producing area. (EU, 2013; government or intergovernmental: agris.fao.org)
- displacement — The feasibility of replacing DPA in commercial practice was proven in the 2010-11 storage season for the approximately 1 million tons of apple fruit produced in South Tyrol, Italy. (South Tyrol, Italy, 2010-11 storage season; weak: ishs.org)
- displacement — In the South Tyrol region of Italy, DPA has not been used for 3 years as of the time of the report. (South Tyrol, Italy, 2013-2014 (approximate); weak: ishs.org)
- driver — The primary drivers for the switch away from DPA are the EU ban on its use and the reduction of maximum residue levels (MRLs) due to toxicity and consumer concerns. (—, 2013 onwards; weak: scholar.sun.ac.za)
Suppliers — real products and services (from the vendor index)#
Honest finding: the vendor index has no DPA-free apple/pear storage specialist; entry is the closest capability. This is recorded as a supplier gap — the companies below are the closest capabilities.
Companies below are active vendors in the vendor index whose own card (profile / official website) shows this product or service — matched 2026-09-28 by keyword and checked by hand against the card text. Being listed is not an endorsement; open each card for evidence, contacts and status.
| Company | Region · Country | What the index shows | Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPL Limited (NSE) | Asia · India | fruit storage technologies (DECCO) | card |
Government funding signals#
Public grants for a specific technology are a leading indicator: governments fund what regulators want to replace and what is close to practical adoption. Searched on 2026-09-27 in: EU CORDIS (FP7, Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe), US federal awards (USAspending: USDA NIFA/ARS/APHIS/Forest Service, EPA, DOE, NOAA, USAID; plus NSF and NIH), UK UKRI Gateway to Research, Australian Research Council. Each grant below was reviewed by hand for relevance. China, Brazil and India are covered in the subsection below (publication-acknowledged grants). Not covered: Russia (RSF, FASIE — not reachable from the research environment) and national agencies outside these databases. Amounts are the funder’s contribution as recorded (US NIH/UKRI: per award or fiscal year).
Signal: Strong. 4 relevant grant(s) · about €6.3M in total · jurisdictions: EU, USA.
| Funder / programme | Project | Lead organisation | Start | Amount | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US federal — National Institute of Food and Agriculture | S and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the goal of this project is to advance the safe adoption of… | Cornell University (US) | 2023 | 3,302,474 USD | link |
| European Commission — FP7 BSG-SME-AG | Development of a new sustainable, long term solution, complying with IPM standards and the future EU Directive of sustainable use of pesticides, for… | Asociacion Para La Promocion De La Pera De Ri (ES) | 2014 | 1,483,999 EUR | link |
| US federal — National Institute of Food and Agriculture | S and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** washington state provides nearly all organic pome fruit grown in… | Washington State University (US) | 2021 | 1,499,887 USD | link |
| US federal — National Institute of Food and Agriculture | Dynamic controlled atmosphere storage for non-chemical maintenance of apple quality | Cornell University (US) | 2018 | 387,916 USD | link |
China, Brazil, India — national research grants acknowledged in publications#
Chinese, Brazilian and Indian funders have no open grant databases reachable here, so this measures scientific papers published since 2015 that acknowledge national government grants, taken from the grant numbers publishers deposit with Crossref. Only papers whose title contains this article’s key terms are counted (a conservative lower bound; “100+” = search window full). It shows research-funding intensity, not budgets. Funders: China — NSFC, National Key R&D Program, China Agriculture Research System; Brazil — CNPq, CAPES, FAPESP, Embrapa, FAPEMIG; India — DBT, DST, ICAR, SERB, CSIR, BIRAC. Rating per country: Strong ≥50 papers · Moderate 10–49 · Weak 1–9.
| Country | Papers funded (2015–2026) | Signal | Main funders (grant acknowledgements) | Example grant → funded paper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 5 | Weak | NSFC (5), China Agriculture Research System (1) | NSFC 31370359 → Conjugated trienols and programmed cell death are more closely related to superficial scald than reactive… (2019) doi |
| Brazil | 28 | Moderate | CNPq (40), CAPES (25) | CNPq 305737/2013-9 → Extremely low oxygen with different hysteresis and dynamic controlled atmosphere storage: Impact on… (2023) doi |
| India | 0 | None | – | – |
Scientific evidence#
- Wright AH, Delong JM, Arul J, Prange RK (2015). The trend toward lower oxygen levels during apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) storage — a review. Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology 90: 1–13.
- Maxin P, Weber RWS, Pedersen HL, Williams M (2012). Control of a wide range of storage rots in naturally infected apples by hot-water dipping and rinsing. Postharvest Biology and Technology 70: 25–31.
- European Commission (2012). Non-approval of the active substance diphenylamine under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 (EU Pesticides Database).
Bioeconomy value#
Atmosphere control (air separation) and heat replace post-harvest chemistry on food. This is fully compatible with organic and residue-free premium markets.