Detection of latent infections in mango fruit with herbicides.
Paramasivan M., Mohan S., Ali G. S., Mathiyazhagan S., Muthukrishanan N.
Author Affiliation: Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai - 625 104, Tamil Nadu, India.
Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection 42 : 318-326
Abstract : A study was to conducted to investigate the effect of some herbicides on the breakdown of mango fruits to identify the fungi recovered from the herbicides-treated fruits and to determine the potential use of herbicides in a rapid quantitative measure of the pathogenic component of the fruit storability. Surface sterilized fruits were dipped in different concentrations (1000, 2000 and 3000 ppm) of paraquat, 2,4-D, atrazine, pendimethalin, butachlor, alachlor, basalin [fluchloralin], pretilachlor, and glyphosate for 1 minute. The quick detection of symptomless latent anthracnose (caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata]) of mango was used. All the herbicides were found to induce the manifestation of latency earlier than the control. Paraquat (3000 ppm) was able to manifest the disease (64.33%) within 3-5 days versus 7-10 days in the control followed by Basalin (36.66%) and alachlor (34.00%). Butachlor and pretilachlor were not effective even over 6-10 days in inducing the manifestation of latent infection. For fruits treated with paraquat, one can detect the disease much earlier and decide whether they are fit enough for long-term storage, export or quick disposal in the local market.