Sustainable management of Mangifera indica pre- and post-harvest diseases mediated by botanical extracts via foliar and fruit application

Abstract

For the first time, the pre- and post-harvest diseases of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) could be managed in an eco-friendly manner by utilization of botanicals extracts. Different concentrations (5, 7 and 8%) of botanicals of Indian lilac (Azadirachta indica), eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis), garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale) and rubber bush (Calotropis procera) were utilized for spraying. After foliar application, at the pre-harvest stage of mango production, all of the utilized botanicals were effectively controlling mango disease with eucalyptus (8%) exceeding Indian lilac and rubber bush in repressing the disease with an elevated extent. The efficacy of garlic and ginger extracts was comparatively low to that of other extracts. Analogously, eucalyptus also exhibited higher disease management at the post-harvest stage, by resulting in a profound improvement in the fruit quality. In the post-harvest stage, fruits were sprayed with botanicals. Based on the findings, the results presented provided the farmers with a maintainable, cost-effective and rapid disease management strategy for improved mango yield having export quality traits.