Effect of Trichoderma on postharvest quality of Harumanis mango

Y. Nor Hanis Aifaa and A. Suhanna

Abstract

Trichoderma sp. is a biological control agent that has potential to control fruit diseases. This experiment evaluated the use of Trichoderma sp. as alternative to propicanacole, a synthetic fungicide used to control postharvest decay especially on mango. Harumanis mangoes were sprayed with 500 ppm propiconazole, at different concentrations of Trichoderma sp. and fruits without spraying as control. Fruits were stored at room temperature (25 °C) for assessment of quality and disease at day 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8. Spraying with different concentration of Trichoderma sp. did not affect mango skin and pulp colour, SSC, pH, TTA and vitamin C, however, there was significant effect on weight loss and disease severity. The skin of Harumanis was easily infected by fungus as early as 4 days of storage. Trichoderma sp. at 1 x 103, 1 x 106 and 1 x 108 conidia/ml concentration cannot provide the required level of protection against anthracnose of mango. The fungicidal application (propiconazole, 500 ppm) was effective in reducing anthracnose incidence in mango fruit stored at room temperature.

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