Articles
POSTHARVEST INFECTION OF BLUEBERRIES DURING HANDLING
Article number
446_47
Pages
319 – 326
Language
Abstract
Postharvest rots of hand-harvested blueberries were increased when infected, spore-bearing fruit were introduced into simulated hopper-fed pint (551 ml volume) filling lines.
Infection of ‘Bluechip’ berries handled on surfaces contaminated with conidia of Colletotrichum ranged from 3.6% for dry-handled berries to 63.5% when berries were handled wet.
Similar results were obtained with Alternaria tenuissima. Added moisture, added inoculum and stem scar size/wetness all contributed to increased rots.
Ripe rot of ‘Blue Ridge’ southern highbush blueberries caused by Colletotrichum increased from 2.3% in clean buckets to 26.2% in infested buckets.
Ripe rot was also significantly increased in ‘Tifblue’ rabbiteye berries by the use of infested picking containers, but only when berries were packed wet.
The introduction of a single spore-bearing fruit per half-pint (170 gram) container was found to significantly increase ripe rot on wet-handled ‘Tifblue’ rabbiteye blueberries.
Infection of ‘Bluechip’ berries handled on surfaces contaminated with conidia of Colletotrichum ranged from 3.6% for dry-handled berries to 63.5% when berries were handled wet.
Similar results were obtained with Alternaria tenuissima. Added moisture, added inoculum and stem scar size/wetness all contributed to increased rots.
Ripe rot of ‘Blue Ridge’ southern highbush blueberries caused by Colletotrichum increased from 2.3% in clean buckets to 26.2% in infested buckets.
Ripe rot was also significantly increased in ‘Tifblue’ rabbiteye berries by the use of infested picking containers, but only when berries were packed wet.
The introduction of a single spore-bearing fruit per half-pint (170 gram) container was found to significantly increase ripe rot on wet-handled ‘Tifblue’ rabbiteye blueberries.
Publication
Authors
W.O. Cline
Keywords
Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Vaccinium, highbush, rabbiteye
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