Abstract
The ability of chitosan to induce disease resistance in harvested Eksotika II papaya fruit was investigated in relation to the activities of several defence-related enzymes. Harvested papaya fruit were dipped in various concentrations of chitosan solutions (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0%) along with an untreated control and stored at 12 ± 1°C and 80-90% relative humidity for 15 days. Disease incidence and the activities of defence-related enzymes were monitored during storage. Compared with untreated fruit, chitosan treatments significantly reduced the severity of disease in fruit inoculated with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The activities of defence-related enzymes peroxidase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and total phenolic compounds were all significantly enhanced in 1.5 and 2.0% chitosan treated papaya fruit as compared to the control and 0.5% chitosan. Therefore, it could be suggested that postharvest decay in papaya can be minimized by chitosan application on a commercial scale.
Highlights
The fungal pathogens are the primary source of decay in fresh fruits and vegetables which cause considerable postharvest losses
The ability of chitosan to induce disease resistance in harvested Eksotika II papaya fruit was investigated in relation to the activities of several defence-related enzymes
Chitosan treatments significantly reduced the severity of disease in fruit inoculated with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Summary
The fungal pathogens are the primary source of decay in fresh fruits and vegetables which cause considerable postharvest losses. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in moisture contents and due to their nutrient composition, they are susceptible to attack by pathogenic fungi. These problems make the fresh produce unfit for human consumption (Terry & Joyce, 2004). To control these postharvest diseases, synthetic fungicides are commonly used (Pramila & Dubey, 2004). The advancement in knowledge of increasing the potential of plants against these threats has become a promising technique to improve the crop protection (El Ghaouth et al, 2003)
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