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Abstract
Excerpts from the report: Peaches and nectarines also are waxed to prevent shriveling due to moisture loss, and to enhance their appearance. At retail level, fruits may lose 5 to 10 percent of their original fresh weight, and their luster and firmness. Waxes are generally sprayed on the fruit as diluted emulsions. No reports have been published on the relative effectiveness of different types of wax coating in preventing moisture loss from peaches, plums, and nectarines. The type of wax used may also affect the gloss and appearance of the fruit in the market. This report describes the effect of different wax-fungicide combinations on the incidence of postharvest decay of peaches and nectarines and the effects of different types of waxes on the preventing moisture loss and enhancing the external appearance of treated fruit.