Articles
SYSTEMIC RESISTANCE INDUCERS APPLIED PREHARVEST FOR COLLETOTRICHUM GLOEOSPORIOIDES CONTROL IN AVOCADOS
Article number
1007_14
Pages
153 – 160
Language
English
Abstract
World avocado production has consistently increased over the past decade.
Long shipping periods are common to consistently provide distant markets with fruit, necessitating extended cold storage which often results in poor fruit quality and early softening.
This may enhance postharvest disease incidence.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) as a latent infection may cause considerable losses.
Antifungal compounds in the fruit decline during fruit ripening.
The objective of this study was to use systemic resistance inducers to enhance the concentration of antifungal compounds and thus decrease postharvest diseases, reducing the need for other chemical control measures such as copper sprays.
Preharvest sprays of phosphorous acid (500 mg L-1 a.i.) were applied to fruit trees, and fruit harvested on the day of spraying as well as 7, 14, and 21 days thereafter.
Fruit were either ripened immediately at ambient temperature or stored for 28 days at either 5.5 or 2°C before ripening.
The general fruit appearance was evaluated during ripening and exocarp samples analysed for potential antifungal compounds and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity.
Preharvest phosphorous acid application decreased anthracnose development with optimum results obtained when fruit were harvested 14 days after phosphorous acid application for both PAL and phenolic activity.
Long shipping periods are common to consistently provide distant markets with fruit, necessitating extended cold storage which often results in poor fruit quality and early softening.
This may enhance postharvest disease incidence.
Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides) as a latent infection may cause considerable losses.
Antifungal compounds in the fruit decline during fruit ripening.
The objective of this study was to use systemic resistance inducers to enhance the concentration of antifungal compounds and thus decrease postharvest diseases, reducing the need for other chemical control measures such as copper sprays.
Preharvest sprays of phosphorous acid (500 mg L-1 a.i.) were applied to fruit trees, and fruit harvested on the day of spraying as well as 7, 14, and 21 days thereafter.
Fruit were either ripened immediately at ambient temperature or stored for 28 days at either 5.5 or 2°C before ripening.
The general fruit appearance was evaluated during ripening and exocarp samples analysed for potential antifungal compounds and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activity.
Preharvest phosphorous acid application decreased anthracnose development with optimum results obtained when fruit were harvested 14 days after phosphorous acid application for both PAL and phenolic activity.
Publication
Authors
R.J. Bosse, J.P. Bower, I. Bertling
Keywords
phenolics, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity, antifungal compounds, phosphorous acid, anthracnose control
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