Postharvest control of mango diseases.
Johnson G. I., Coates L. M., Cooke A. W., Wells I. A.
Author Affiliation: Division of Horticulture, CSIRO Cunningham Laboratory, Carmody Road, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
: 70-71
Abstract : In Australia, the current recommendation for postharvest control of anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata]) in mango is a 5-min heated (52°C) benomyl dip or a 30-second unheated overhead spray of prochloraz on the packing line. This research demonstrated the diminishing efficacy of these fungicides during long-term (4-6 weeks) cool or controlled atmosphere storage. When applied alone, both fungicides gave unacceptable control of anthracnose under long-term storage conditions (26 d in 5%, O2/2% CO2 at 13°, then 11 d in air at 20°). A dual treatment consisting of hot benomyl followed by prochloraz was shown to give superior control of anthracnose under these storage conditions. It was also shown that rain on fruit at harvest increased disease severity, resulting in reduced efficacy of hot benomyl treatment. Mangoes harvested during wet weather were also more susceptible to brush damage following hot benomyl treatment at 52° for 5 minutes. Brush damage was reduced or eliminated by applying benomyl at 50° for 4 minutes. Disease control, however, was not satisfactory. It is concluded that mangoes harvested in wet weather require careful handling to ensure adequate disease control and to avoid brush damage.