Abstract
The effects of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) on pathogenicity of Colletotrichum musae and its potential to control postharvest diseases of bananas were determined. Addition of NaHCO3 reduced mycelial growth, spore production, spore germination and appressoria production of C. musae, in vitro by increasing pH (from 6.9 to 8.7) of the culture medium (PD broth). The pH of 8.59, created by 100mM NaHCO3 completely inhibited spore production. Postharvest dip treatment in 300mM NaHCO3 for 10min reduced the lesion area of anthracnose on artificially inoculated banana fruit. Natural infections of anthracnose, crown rot and blossom end rot were also reduced significantly in fruit that were treated with 300mM NaHCO3 for 10min. Efficiency of integrating NaHCO3 with a bacterial antagonist, Burkholderia spinosa for controlling postharvest diseases of bananas was also determined. Dipping banana fruit in 300mM NaHCO3 solution for 10min followed by dipping in B. spinosa suspension in nutrient broth (cell concentration 1×108cfu/mL) effectively controlled anthracnose, crown rot and blossom end rot of bananas (var. Kolikuttu). Dipping bananas in 300mM NaHCO3 increased pH, total soluble solids and thickness of the fruit peel which may have an indirect or cumulative effect on the reduction of postharvest disease development in bananas.
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