Abstract:
Efficacy of biocontrol agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PPCB004 was evaluated on the control of anthracnose and phomopsis rot in ‘Solo’ papaya pre-treated with 1-methyl cyclopropene (100 ml) (1-MCP) during storage. This treatment was compared to the untreated control, commercial treatment (washing in chlorinated water), stand alone 1-MCP and PPCB004 treatment. Although fruit pre-treated with 1-MCP delayed the ripening (100% yellow) after cold storage by 9e10 d, it showed higher incidence
and severity of anthracnose and phomopsis rot than the fruit subjected to commercial treatment.
Application of PPCB004 after 1-MCP pre-treatment (1-MCP þ PPCB004) reduced the anthracnose and
phomopsis incidence and severity after cold storage (10 C, 85% RH for 14 d) and ripening at 25 C. The 1-MCP þ PPCB004 treatment helped to retain the fruit firmness, overall quality and uniform yellow skin (100%) and flesh colour after ripening. The PPCB004 was effectively recovered from stand alone PPCB004 and 1-MCP þ PPCB004 treated fruit after cold storage and ripening. The PPCB004 population showed an increase by 1 log units after ripening in 1-MCP þ PPCB004 treated fruit. After ripening the recovery of PPCB004 population was higher (0.7 log units) in 1-MCP þ PPCB004. The total recovery of fungal
population on the fruit surface after ripening was lower in 1-MCP þ PPCB004 and stand alone PPCB004 treated fruit. It can be concluded that application of B. amyloliquefaciens PPCB004 with 1-MCP pretreated papaya (at 25e30% skin yellow stage) can significantly reduce disease incidence associated with 1-MCP treatment. This treatment has the potential for commercial application in the ‘organic’ papaya industry.
