Table grapes are subject to serious water loss and decay during
postharvest handling. Gray mold caused by the fungal agent,
Botrytis cinerea, and stem browning from desiccation are the two
main factors that reduce the postharvest quality of table grapes
(Crisosto et al., 1994). The standard practice to control postharvest
decay of grapes worldwide is to fumigate the fruit after harvest
with SO2 gas. The grapes are fumigated either by repeated application
of gas in storage rooms or by continuous release of gas in
polyethylene-lined boxes with continuous release SO2-generating
pads (Karabulut et al., 2004). Despite its efficacy, the treatment may
compromise fruit taste, and cause damage to the berry (cracks and
bleaching) and result in excessive sulfite residues (Lichter et al.,
2005). Ingestion of SO2 residues can cause hypersensitive reactions
in some people, which has resulted in the removal of SO2
treatment from the United States Food and Drug Administration
generally recognized as safe (GRAS) list.