Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research
Project Number: 2034-43000-041-003-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2017
End Date: Sep 30, 2020
Objective:
The goal of this research is to develop postharvest programs that can be integrated into existing postharvest handling practices to control Mucor rot and gray mold, two emerging postharvest diseases on mandarin fruit. Specific objectives include:
(1) To determine fungicide resistance profiles for Botrytis cinerea isolates from mandarin fruit, (2) To evaluate and develop postharvest practices consisting of sanitizing agents, salts, hot water, and fungicides for control of Mucor rot on citrus fruit, and (3) To evaluate and develop postharvest practices consisting of sanitizing agents, salts, hot water, and fungicides for control of gray mold on citrus fruit.
Approach:
Resistance to citrus postharvest fungicides in Botrytis cinerea isolates from mandarins will be tested. Fungicide-resistant phenotypes will then be determined and used for guiding the development of postharvest practices for control of gray mold caused by B. cinerea. Integrated approaches consisting of sanitizing agents, salts, hot water, and fungicides for control of Mucor rot caused by M. piriformis and gray mold on mandarin fruit will be evaluated in the laboratory and under semi-commercial conditions.
