Reduction of papaya rot (Phytophthora palmivora) with phosphite and Acibenzolar-S-Methyl in preharvest and postharvest

Abstract

The papaya fruit rot (Phytophthora palmivora) is responsible for significant losses. To reduce diseases, especially in areas with climate and humidity favorable to pathogens, are adopted chemical methods, which sometimes increase the cost of production and cause severe environmental impacts. Alternatively, there are products, such as, phosphites of potassium and acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) that might be efficient on disease control and less aggressive to environment. Phosphites of K and ASM were evaluated in this study on the control effectiveness of papaya fruit rot at different dosages in preharvest and postharvest. The severity and percentage of disease control were evaluated for each treatment. For the pre-harvest treatments (applied six days before harvest), the phosphite of K [240 g L^-1 K₂O, 340 g L^-1 P₂O₅ and 50 g L^-1 (Reforce^® + Salicylic Acid)] at 3 or 6 mL L^-1significantly reduced disease severity, and, reduced fruit ripening. On postharvest application, ASM reduced disease severity.