Control of fungal postharvest diseases of citrus in orchard and packinghouse stage

The aim of this study was to protect sweet oranges against Phytophthora citrophthora, Penicillium digatatum, P.italicum, Lasiodiplodia theobromea, Alternaria citri and Geotricum candidum in orchard, during harvesting and in postharvest stage. For this aim, instead of benomyl, which will be banned in the pesticide market, thiophanate-methyl has been chosen for orchard application. As for harvest and postharvest stage instead of biphenyl which is forbidden to use in many countries sodium carbonate which is commonly used in California for the control of the postharvest diseases of organic citrus, has been selected. Some other fungicides which are known effective in packing house stage also were used.Trials have been conducted in Zagarlı village at çayçiftlik farms (Yuregir/ADANA) and its Packinghouse, and also in Star Gıda Pakinghouse and its collaborated Washington Navel Sweet Orange farm in Havutlu village (Yuregir/ADANA).Results showed that the best protection form postharvest diseases has been gained from; fostyl-Al +thiophonate-methyl application in field stage before harvesting and than treating some other fungicides at packinghouse storage with conservation the fruit for 21 days at 7±1o C at storage house and than 7 days at ambient temperature. After this application there is no any record about rooting on treated sweet orange fruits.