Alternatives to the chemical control of anthracnose and other postharvest diseases of bananas in Guadeloupe [French West Indies]
2001
de Lapeyre de Bellaire, L. | Chillet, M. (CIRAD-FHLOR, Neufchateu, Sainte Marie, 97130 Capesterre Belle Eau, Guadeloupe (French West Indies))
Anthracnose and crown rot are the most important diseases affecting the quality of exported fruits from the French West Indies. These diseases develop during fruit conservation and ripening and they depreciate the fruit marketability. They are in practice controlled by a postharvest fungicide. However, under Guadaloupe conditions, this chemical control has now reached a deadlock for three main reasons: (i) aerial fungicide sprays to control sigatoka disease have resulted in the appearance of strains resistant to the active ingredient used for postharvest; (ii)the fungicidal treatments are not effective in all the production areas because of the variation in the fruit susceptibility to anthracnose disease; and (iii) consumer demand is for a reduction in pesticide use, especially those applied for postharvest. The better knowledge of the bio-ecology of Colletotrichum musae highlights new alternatives to the chemical control. At field level, fruit contamination can be reduced by the removal of floral parts of the last bunch bract. This operation must be realized as soon as possible to avoid inoculum development. This practice combined with sleeving of bunch enable a very significant reduction of the levels of contamination. Particular attention must be given to the precocity of sleeving that should be done after the stage when the fingers are in horizontal position. Fruit must be handled carefully during transport and packaging in order to avoid bruising that enhances disease expression. Water quality in the dehandling and in washing tanks is also important to avoid contamination of crowns. Lastly, packing the fruit in polybags enables the formation of a modified atmosphere (higher CO2 and lower O2), which is important to improve fruit conservation and slow down fungal development. These alternatives to chemical control are successfully developed on a pilot farm
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