THE EFFECT OF WAXING, FUNGICIDE AND HOT WATER TREATMENT TO POSTHARVEST DISEASE SEVERITY OF PINEAPPLE (ANANAS COMOSUS)

摘要

This study was done to determine the most effective treatment to control postharvest diseases of pineapple (Ananas comosus). Treatments applied were waxing, fungicide and hot water dip treatment. Fruits were visualized to evaluate whether the treatments influence their ripeness. The severity of damage was determined through visualization by naked eyes and also microbial growth on tissues isolated from inner and outer layer of pineapple. The fungus and bacterial growth was determined from the colony that formed on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and Nutrient Agar (NA) media. All treatments helped to control postharvest diseases of pineapple. The treatments controlled diseases in inner part of the fruits only but not effective in shell part. Waxing is themost effective treatment to control postharvest diseases in pineapple than both hot water dip treatment and fungicide treatment. Waxing not only controls the diseases but it helps to delay ripening.