Guazatine control of sour rot in lemons, oranges and tangors under various storage conditions

Abstract

Guazatine (1-17-diguanidino-9-aza-heptadecane acetate) was compared with sodium orthophenylphenate (SOPP), sec-butylamine (2-AB), benomyl and tridemorph for the control of citrus sour rot ( Geotrichum candidum) under local marketing, export, and ethylene (C 2H 4) degreening storage conditions. Guazatine at 25–125 mg/l gave better control than 20 g/l SOPP, 10 g/l 2-AB and 250 mg/l benomyl in artificially inoculated ‘Eureka’ lemons stored at 27° C and high humidity for 6 days. At 500 mg/l, guazatine gave better control than 20 g/l SOPP, 10 g/l 2-AB or 500 mg/l benomyl in dip-inoculated ‘Eureka’ lemons, treated and packaged as for export and stored at 7° C for 2 or 10 weeks. At 250 mg/l, guazatine provided better control than 20 g/l SOPP, 5 g/l 2-AB, 250 mg/l benomyl or 1000 mg/l tridemorph in artificially inoculated ‘Washington’ navel oranges held for 4 days under degreening-conditions of 27° C and 90% RH with added C 2H 4.