The kinetics of pesticides and UVC irradiation effect on the rate of shallot (Allium cepa var ascalonicum L. Back) seed quality change during storage

Abstract

Abstract During storage, shallot seed experiences a decreased quality in the form of weight loss and bulbs damage. Therefore, this study aims to examine the kinetics of pesticides and UVC irradiation effect on the rate of shallot seed bulb quality change during storage. Four different pesticide applications (control, systemic, contact and contact + systemic) and four levels of UVC irradiation time (control, 2, 7 and 12 hours) with 3 replications were used. After being treated, the selected shallot samples were stored for 90 days and continuously monitored. It was found that fungi increase followed first and zero orders with k values between −6 × 106 to 676.190. The damage and weight loss percentages followed zero-order with k values between −0.427 to −0.0233. The pesticides and UVC irradiation affected shallot quality, where the best treatment was systemic pesticides application combined with UVC irradiation for 7 hours. This led to 3.75 × 107 fungal spores (control 1.17 × 109), 1.59% bulbs damage (control 3.4%) and 10.12% weight loss (control 21.05%), with the value of k= −228.571, −0.0233, and −0.0978 as well as R2 = 0.3248, 0.8494, and 0.9924 respectively.