temperature and at 45 C demonstrated low peel firmness and their
effect was on par with each other and the control at ambient
temperature. The difference in peel firmness might be due partially
to the inhibition effect on disease severity. In addition, as suggested
by Rodov et al. (2000) improvement of fruit firmness by hot water
dips without reduction in fruit quality as compared with nonheated
dipping treatment may be either by inhibiting enzymatic
systems involved in softening, or by elicitation of cell wall
strengthening processes, such as lignifications.