Management of mycoflora in copra using chemicals and biocontrol agents

摘要

Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera L.), a perennial horticultural crop, is a symbol of national and international integration involving more than 93 producing countries with an area of 12.8 million ha and production of 10.9 million tones of copra equivalentand more than 140 consuming countries (Madhavan etal., 2010). Coconut is mainly grown for the high oil content of the endosperm (copra) which is an important source of vegetable oil used in the manufacturing of edible oils, margarine, cooking fat and soaps (Van Dam, 2005; Rajarajan et al, 2009). A number of value added products are manufactured from coconut. At present, India is the largest producer of coconut in the world with an annual production of 1,49,40,000 MT (2011-12) (http:/www.coconutboard.gov.in/stat.htm). Coconut oil accounts for about 7.8 per cent of the total edible oils production in the country with a production of 4.4 lakh tones. In addition, India imports around 2000-7000 tonnes of crude coconut oil. Before extracting oil form the copra, it has to be dried, but drying in the winter poses problems like the growth of molds and subsequent rotting of the copra. Common salt is widely used to smear the copra to arrest the mold growth. In the present study, attempt was made to assess the effect of some chemical preservative and biocontrol agents on the growth of mycoflora of copra. The outcome of this study will largely benefit the resource poor small farmers and small sized copra processing and oil extracting units throughout the coconutproducing countries in the world.