Project Coordinator:
Keith Lesar

Collaborating researchers involved:
Keith Lesar, Dr. Paul Fourie (CRI at US), Prof. Lise Korsten (UP), Rene Jacobs (UP)

Research and services on all post-harvest diseases, and most specifically on green and blue mould, sour rot, Phytophthora brown rot, anthracnose and stem-end-rots, and focuses on the aspects summarised below:

Market Access
1. Adherence to permitted MRL levels
2. Packaging of local and international research findings
   to facilitate market access negotiations
3. Microbial food safety

Etiology + Diagnosis
1. Develop detection techniques to facilitate rapid
   detection and diagnosis
2. Characterise variability in pathogen populations

Epidemiology
1. Study epidemiological aspects that would facilitate
   improvement of management strategies

Disease management
1. Formulation and evaluation of management strategies
   during pre-harvest and post-harvest stages
2. Structuring of pre-harvest spray programmes to
   reduce inoculum loads on harvested fruit
3. Implementation of strategies to limit fungicide
   resistance buildup
4. Evaluation of novel and GRAS chemical compounds
   and biocontrol agents for postharvest disease control
5. Integration of cold chain management strategies with
   regard to fruit quality, rind condition, pre- and post-
   harvest decay management

Inoculum Management
1. Formulation and evaluation of pre- and post-harvest
   sanitation strategies that would reduce contamination    of harvested fruit.