Abstract
Green mold, caused by the fungus Penicillium digitatum, is the primary issue in the post-harvest phase of oranges that causes significant losses. Consequently, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of alternative products in the management of green mold in postharvest oranges. Four in vitro experiments were conducted. Three assessed the effects of different concentrations of each alternative product (potassium phosphite, Ascophyllum nodosum extract, and organomineral fertilizer) on the production of fresh mycelial weight of P. digitatum; and a fourth evaluated the effects of alternative products compared to that of the conventional product (benzimidazole fungicide). Subsequently, ‘Valencia’ oranges were subjected to the treatments, which consisted of distilled water (inoculated and non-inoculated control), potassium phosphite, A. nodosum extract, organomineral fertilizer, and benzimidazole fungicide. The fruits were inoculated with P. digitatum and evaluated daily for the incidence and severity of green mold over seven days. Furthermore, the effects of the treatments on the physicochemical quality of fruits were evaluated for the following attributes: skin and pulp color, firmness of the pulp, pH, titratable acidity (TA), soluble solids (SS), and the SS/TA ratio. Potassium phosphite and A. nodosum extract inhibited the in vitro development of P. digitatum. The alternative products reduced the incidence and severity of green mold on oranges without compromising the physicochemical quality of the fruit. Therefore, the evaluated products can be used in the postharvest treatment of oranges and are considered promising alternatives for the management of green mold.
Highlights
Brazil is one of the largest orange producers and exporters of concentrated fruit juice
Three assessed the effects of different concentrations of each alternative product on the production of fresh mycelial weight of P. digitatum; and a fourth evaluated the effects of alternative products compared to that of the conventional product
The P. digitatum was isolated from symptomatic fruits collected in the region, after which it was maintained on PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) at 25 °C, in a biochemical oxygen demand (B.O.D.) incubator to provide appropriate conditions for its development
Summary
Brazil is one of the largest orange producers and exporters of concentrated fruit juice. National production reached expressive values in the 2019-2020 harvest, reaching more than 18.3 million tons. Indirect effects are related to the stimulation of plant response to stress, such as the synthesis and increase of enzymatic activity, hormones, and defense compounds (Carvalho & Castro, 2014). Organomineral fertilizers are derived from organic residues from plant and animal production systems. In addition to providing plant nutrition, they have demonstrated benefits associated with the induction of resistance to diseases by stimulating the synthesis and accumulation of phenolic compounds with fungistatic properties. Because of the potential of these alternative products for plant disease control, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of potassium phosphite, Ascophyllum nodosum extract, and organomineral fertilizer in the management of green mold in postharvest oranges
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