TITLE:
Optimisation of the Postharvest Treatment with Thymol to Control Mango Anthracnose
AUTHORS:
Marc Chillet, Jérome Minier, Mathilde Hoarau, Jean-Christophe Meile
KEYWORDS:
Mango, Mangifera indica, Anthracnose, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Biological Control, Phenolic Compound, Thymol
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.11 No.8,
August
17,
2020
ABSTRACT: Anthracnose, caused by the
fungus called Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is the main postharvest
disease that affects mango production on Reunion Island. Fruits for the export market are always treated with
chemicals. The use of chemical treatment is not in adequation with consumer
expectations, and the increasing emergence of fungicide-resistant isolates
promotes the development of alternatives methods. The principal objective of
this work was to use antimicrobial properties of thymol as an alternative
postharvest treatment on mango. Thymol diluated in a penetrating agent solution
was effective on mango anthracnose. At a concentration of 0.025%, Thymol
limited necrosis development due to
pathogens during fruit storage. This treatment can stimulate some of
polyphenols biosynthesis involved in the fruit resistance to postharvest
disease, particularly thesynthesis of gallic acid and resorcinol. With this
final concentration of 0.025% thymol, the treatment did not affect fruit
maturation and quality, especially the peel colour and sugar content.
Importantly, the treatment did not show any detectable effect on organoleptic
qualities of the fruit.