Vol. 73 No: 3

Title:
The Effects of Postharvest Application of Surface Sterilizing Agents on the Incidence of Fungal Rots in Stored Apples and Pears

Authors:
R.J. COLGAN and D.S. JOHNSON

pp: 361-366

Abstract:
The effectiveness of surface sterilants as a means of controlling storage rots in apple (cvs Cox's Orange Pippin and Bramley's Seedling) and pear (cv. Doyenne du Comice) was studied over two years. The effects of treatments on ‘Cox’ stored under controlled atmosphere (CA) conditions differed according to the source of fruit: chlorine (as calcium hypochlorite) reduced rotting in fruit from one orchard, but increased it in fruit from another orchard. In the same experiments drenching with metalaxyl/carbendazim reduced rotting, despite the presence of strains of Botrytis cinerea resistant to carbendazim. A peroxide-based sterilant gave similar results on ‘Cox’ to those obtained with chlorine. Chlorine treatment significantly reduced rotting of air-stored ‘Bramley’ (by 59%) and ‘Comice’ pears (by 51 %) and was as effective as metalaxyl/carbendazim and iprodione respectively in controlling storage rots, suggesting that this treatment could be viewed as an alternative to postharvest fungicide application. Addition of a non-ionic surfactant failed to improve the efficacy of chlorine and the effectiveness of metalaxyl/carbendazim treatment was not improved by drenching in chlorine prior to fungicide application.

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