CHEMOTHERAPY OF “PRATA ANÔ BANANAS FOR POST-HARVEST ROT CONTROL

ABSTRACT

CHEMOTHERAPY OF “PRATA ANÔ BANANAS FOR POST-HARVEST ROT CONTROL. Anthracnose (Colletotrichum musae) and crown rots (fungi complex) are the main diseases that occur in the banana crop post-harvest. This poses the challenge of prolonging the post-harvest life, increasing the disease-free period and maintaining the fruit’s food quality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of systemic and protective fungicides in the control of postharvest rot in fruits of the banana cultivar “Prata anã” from Jaíba, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Systemic fungicides from the benzimidazole, triazole, imidazole and pyridinamine chemical groups were evaluated in the dosages 0, 125, 250 and 500 mL.L^-1 or mg.L^-1, after immersion for 3 minutes, in environmental conditions (18-23º C and 60–85% RU). Procloraz (125 mL.L^-1) and propiconazole (250 mL.L^-1) were the most efficient for preventing the incidence of rot in bananas inoculated with C. musae. Higher dosages caused toxicity in the fruits. The benzimidazois were not efficient in the control of rot, even at the highest dosage used (500 mL.L^-1), showing results similar to standard fungicide (benomil) and the control treatment without fungicide. The fungicide propiconazole at the dosage 250 mL.L^-1proved to be effective for use in the post-harvest bananas, not causing toxicity in the “Prata anã” banana fruits.

KEY WORDS
Chemical control; anthracnose; crown rot; fungi; disease; fungicide