A method for pre-harvest assessment of latent infections in fruits.
Prusky D., Fuchs Y., Zauberman G.
Author Affiliation: Volcani Cent., Bet Dagan, Israel.
Annals of Applied Biology 98 : 79-85
Abstract : Mango fruit disks were sampled and assayed for Alternaria alternata contamination under suitable growth conditions. It was then possible to evaluate the number of infections and the surface infected by the fungus in mango fruits before harvest. Infections increased during the growing season but fungicides prevented this increase. A significant positive correlation was found between the amount of surface infected by latent A. alternata at harvest and the incidence of black spots that developed on the fruit during storage.ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT:A method was developed for the quantitative assessment of latent infections of Alternaria alternata in mango fruits. Maneb sprayed 4 times (once every 2 weeks) from 14 days after fruit set reduced infection from 60 to 10% in fruits of the cv. Haden.