EFFECT OF PRE-HARVEST POTASSIUM CHLORIDE TREATMENT ON ANTHRACNOSE DISEASE DEVELOPMENT IN HARVESTED TOMEJC MANGO (Mangifera indica L.) FRUITS

Abstract

Mango (Variety “TomEJC”) has the highest potential in the export market due to its quality characteristics: ex cellent flavor, low fiber content and smooth flesh. However, the variety takes two weeks to ripen to table-ripe stage, after harvest. Due to this slow ripening nature of the variety, development of anthracnose has a high poten tial which leads to rejection by consumers. This disease can be effectively controlled with chemical treatments or fungicides, which may render the treated fruits less safe for consumption. This research was carried out to find out the effect of pre-harvest KCl application on the control of anthracnose development of ripe fruits. Three KCl concentrations, 1 g l-1 , 2 g l-1 and 4 g l-1 were sprayed separately once on to fruits at immature (one-month after fruit set) at pre-harvest stage. Fruits harvested at the correct maturity were inoculated with Colletotrichum gloeo sporioides spore suspension and allowed for natural ripening in a humid chamber. Incidence and severity of an thracnose disease was significantly lower on mangoes treated with 2 g l-1 KCl compared to other treatments and untreated control. Fruit length, fruit width, fruit volume and peel color did not affect by the treatments. There fore 2 g l-1 KCl could be recommended as a pre-harvest application to mango fruits to minimize post-harvest inci dences of anthracn