A mechanized two-step cleaning and disinfection process strongly minimizes pathogen contamination on wooden potato storage boxes

For storage of fruit and vegetables wooden boxes are often used. The reuse of these boxes provides a mean of pathogen transmission and food spoilage and therefore poses a risk for the consumers' health. The efficacy of a newly developed fully automatized machine for cleaning and disinfection of wooden potato storage boxes against various plant pathogens was tested. The moveable machine with two separate treatment chambers is fixed on a trailer. The technique is optimized for the disinfectant MENNO-Florades (90 g/L benzoic acid). In the first chamber the disinfectant is applied as a solution and in the second chamber as foam. The pathogens tested, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum, Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris, Colletotrichum coccodes and Fusarium solani were eliminated to 100, 96.9, 96.9 and 90.6% respectively. Additionally the effects against two quarantine pathogens (Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicus, Ralstonia solanacearum race 3 biovar 2) were tested by simulating the process inside the machine in a quarantine greenhouse chamber. Both pathogens were eliminated completely. This shows that a combination of liquid and foam application of a disinfectant can successfully eliminate storage pathogens and in that way help to prevent pathogen spread and ensure crop health during storage.