ABSORPTION OF HYDROCYANIC ACID BY VALENCIA-ORANGE FRUITS AND LEAVES FUMIGATED AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND AT PARTIAL VACUUM

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Abstract
The results of the expt. with the fruits showed that; (a) the amts. of HCN absorbed when fumigated with an 8-ml. dosage and at atmospheric pressure, increased almost linearly for each 10-min. exposure period from 10 to 60 mins., after that the curve began to flatten, (b) with dosages of 6, 8, 10 and 12 ml., fruits fumigated at atmospheric pressure absorbed a little less than half as much HCN as fruits fumigated at a partial vacuum of 26 inches, and (c) approx. the same amts. of HCN were absorbed by fruits exposed to an 8-ml. dosage for 70-80 min. at atm. pressure as by fruits exposed to a similar dosage for only 40 min. at partial vacuum. The results of the expts. with the leaves showed that (a) the amts. of HCN absorbed by leaves fumigated at atm. pressure were always less than the amts. absorbed by leaves fumigated at the same time of day but at partial vacuum, (b) when fumigated at either atmospheric pressure or at partial vacuum the amts. of HCN absorbed by leaves picked in the morning were always less than from leaves picked in the afternoon, (c) the amts. of HCN absorbed by leaves fumigated at atmospheric pressure in the afternoon were, with one exception, greater than the amts. absorbed by leaves fumigated at partial vacuum in the morning, (d) the leaves picked at 8:00 A.M. absorbed less HCN than leaves picked at 10:00 A.M., 1:30 P.M., or 3:30 P.M., and (e) the amts. of HCN absorbed did not appear to be influenced by variations in the moisture content of the different samples of leaves. The possible function of the stomata in governing the absorption of HCN by citrus fruits and leaves is discussed.

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