Management of relative humidity along with temperature is essential in reducing
water loss. The following technological procedures are used commercially as
supplements to temperature and relative humidity management: Treatments applied
to commodities include curing of certain root, bulb, and tuber vegetables; cleaning
followed by removal of excess surface moisture; sorting to eliminate defects; waxing
and other surface coatings, including film wrapping; heat treatments (hot water or
air, vapor heat); treatment with special chemical treatments (sprout inhibitors, scald
inhibitors, calcium, growth regulators, ethylene-action inhibitors, such as 1-
methylcyclopropene, postharvest fungicides); fumigation or irradiation for insect
control; and ethylene treatment (de-greening citrus, ripening climacteric fruits).