Pre- and post-harvest control of mango anthracnose in the Philippines.
Dodd J. C., Bugante R., Koomen I., Jeffries P., Jeger M. J.
Author Affiliation: Biological Laboratory, University of Kent, Canterbury, UK.
Plant Pathology 40 : 576-583
Abstract : Field trials were conducted at 2 sites in the Philippines in successive years to compare the effectiveness of different pre- and post-harvest treatments for control of anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata] on mango fruits. In 1 experiment, pre-harvest application of benomyl (250 mg/litre a.i.) significantly reduced the number of conidia sampled in tree canopies compared with control trees (no fungicide) and was associated with a significant reduction in the post-harvest occurrence of G. cingulata on fruits. A hot-benomyl dip (850 mg/litre a.i. at 52-55°C for 10 min) completely eradicated G. cingulata on fruits treated on the day of harvest. In a second experiment, pre-harvest applications of prochloraz (500 mg/litre a.i.) either within a pre-planned spray schedule or applied strategically (when 18 h or more continual leaf wetness was recorded by a sensor placed within a tree canopy) gave the best control of G. cingulata on fruits. A hot-benomyl dip was again the most effective post-harvest treatment for fruits treated on the day of harvest and on the day after. There was no significant difference between hot-benomyl dips or prochloraz dips (500 mg/litre a.i. for 10 min) at ambient temp. when fruits were treated 3 days after harvest. The implications of these results for the production and treatment of Carabao mangoes in the Philippines are discussed.