Supplementary Antimold Activity of Phosethyl AL, A New Brown Rot Fungicide for Citrus Fruits

Abstract

AbstractPhosethyl Al (= Aliette) is a new and promising postharvest fungicide against brown rot of citrus fruits. Its effectiveness in controlling green mold (Penicillium digitaum), the major citrus fruit pathogen, was studied on artificially inoculated fruit and compared with that of sodium o‐phenylphenate (SOPP) and thiabendazole (TBZ). In vitro and in vivo experiments have shown that phosethyl Al is capable — although to a lesser extent than SOPP and TBZ — of inhibiting growth of P. digitatum and reducing the incidence of decay of citrus fruits, caused by a wild‐type, and apparently also by a benzimidazole‐resistant strain of this fungus.The influence of times of treatment and modes of application (including temperature and duration of treatment, rinsing of the fruit) on the effectiveness of phosethyl Al, SOPP and TBZ in controlling green mold was studied and discussed. It is concluded that, under conditions of natural infection, phosethyl Al can be used for the postharvest control of Phytophthora‐caused brown rot without any apparent increase in the incidence of green mold in the treated fruits.