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Project
Coordinator:
Keith Lesar
Collaborating researchers and technicians involved:
Keith Lesar, Dr. Tian Schutte.
The aim of this project is to provide an industry service
whereby new packhouse treatments are comparatively evaluated,
fungicide resistance is monitored and standardised recommendations
are provided. Research is conducted on all post-harvest citrus
pathogens, e.g., Penicillium, Diplodia, sour rot (Geotrichum),
Trichoderma, Phytophthora.
Ultimately
the main objective is to improve decay control in packed cartons
of export citrus fruit, thereby enabling the citrus producer
to realise a maximum return upon delivery of a quality product
into the market place.
This
is achieved by:
The
screening of new chemicals and potentially new fungicides.
Evaluation of new sanitising agents (disinfectants) for sanitation
and decay control.
Evaluation of biocontrol agents and isolation of new antagonists.
Evaluation of the incorporation of any new products or procedures
into current procedures as part of a systems approach to the
management of post-harvest decay.
The screening of post-harvest pathogens for resistance to
the post-harvest fungicides.
Evaluation of new citrus waxes and developing more regulated
control of citrus waxes in the industry.
The evaluation of operational issues i.e., the handling of
fruit from harvest to packhouse, packhouse treatments, waxing,
packing and storage of the fruit in the cold chain, and the
role that these issues might contribute to rind conditions
on citrus cultivars e.g., Peteca spot, chilling injury, rind
breakdown etc.
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