Articles
Efficacy of selected postharvest agrochemicals in reducing potato tuber soft rot caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum in storage
Article number
1269_9
Pages
67 – 74
Language
English
Abstract
The control of pectolytic bacteria (soft rot) is still a challenge in potato production worldwide.
Consumer demands for more natural and less toxic alternative postharvest sanitizers has led the industry into developing different fresh produce sanitizers and preventative methods for potato soft rot.
Foodprint® and SporeKill® were evaluated for their efficacy against the pectinolytic Gram negative bacterium, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc, Agro-255), the causal agent of potato tuber soft rot.
The efficacy of the products was tested as a postharvest wash treatment on artificially infected potato tubers of cultivars Mondial and Fianna which were then stored at room temperature for a period of 35 days.
Results showed that tubers of Mondial are highly susceptible to soft rot (100% soft rot incidence) as compared to tubers of Fianna (55% soft rot incidence). Foodprint® and SporeKill® reduced soft rot incidence by 43 and 17% on Mondial potatoes and by 31 and 38% on Fianna potatoes, respectively.
This study concludes that the combination of a Pcc tolerant potato cultivar and an effective postharvest sanitizer can potentially reduce the incidence of postharvest soft rot by more than 70%.
Consumer demands for more natural and less toxic alternative postharvest sanitizers has led the industry into developing different fresh produce sanitizers and preventative methods for potato soft rot.
Foodprint® and SporeKill® were evaluated for their efficacy against the pectinolytic Gram negative bacterium, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc, Agro-255), the causal agent of potato tuber soft rot.
The efficacy of the products was tested as a postharvest wash treatment on artificially infected potato tubers of cultivars Mondial and Fianna which were then stored at room temperature for a period of 35 days.
Results showed that tubers of Mondial are highly susceptible to soft rot (100% soft rot incidence) as compared to tubers of Fianna (55% soft rot incidence). Foodprint® and SporeKill® reduced soft rot incidence by 43 and 17% on Mondial potatoes and by 31 and 38% on Fianna potatoes, respectively.
This study concludes that the combination of a Pcc tolerant potato cultivar and an effective postharvest sanitizer can potentially reduce the incidence of postharvest soft rot by more than 70%.
Authors
T. Nghondzweni, R. Gouws-Meyer, R. Slabbert
Keywords
bacteria, pectolytic, Gram negative, susceptible, storage, cultivar
Groups involved
- Division Temperate Tree Fruits
- Division Vine and Berry Fruits
- Division Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nuts
- Division Ornamental Plants
- Division Vegetables, Roots and Tubers
- Commission Banana
- Division Horticulture for Development
- Division Precision Horticulture and Engineering
- Division Plant Genetic Resources, Breeding and Biotechnology
- Division Plant-Environment Interactions in Field Systems
- Division Postharvest and Quality Assurance
- Division Greenhouse and Indoor Production Horticulture
- Division Landscape and Urban Horticulture
- Division Horticulture for Human Health
- Commission Cultivar Registration
- Division Temperate Tree Nuts
- Commission Agroecology and Organic Farming Systems
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