The anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Penz.) is the most important post-harvest disease of mango fruit. Its control has been done by immersion of fruits for 5 minutes in hot water at 55ºC containing the fungicide thiabendazole at 200 g/100 liters. Although efficient in the control of mango anthracnose, this fungicide can leave residues. This fact does not satisfy the consumers who claim for pesticides-free fruits and pollution-free environment. Two experiments were carried out aiming at the selection of phytotherapeutics to control of post harvest anthracnose and to increase the mango shelf life period. Mango fruits were harvested in the 3rd and 4th ripening stages, immersed for 5 minutes in water (control), benomyl (100g/100 liters), thiabendazole (240g/100 liters) at 22 ºC, 40 ºC or 45 ºC and in different concentrations of soybean oil alone or in mixtures with benomyl, thiabendazole and ethanolic extract of sucupira fruit (Pterodon pubescens Benth.). After treatments the fruits were maintained in room conditions at 27±1ºC, RH = 72 %_ 85% (Exp. n. 1) and at 17 ºC, RH = 85 %-100% (Exp. n. 2). The experiments were evaluated at 15 days (Exp. nº 1) and 30 days after the treatment (Exp. nº 2) by determining the percentages of the fruit area with lesions, ripe, half-ripe and unripe fruits, ºBrix and texture. Soybean oil alone or with benomyl or thiabendazol at 22ºC or 40ºC increased mango shelf life period and was efficient in the control of anthracnose.
Mangifera indica; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides; alternative control; phytotherapy; Pterodon pubescens extract; biologic pesticide
