Post-harvest fungal diseases of Vazhakulam pineapple: Isolation, identification, and management strategies

Abstract:

Post-harvest losses in pineapple are predominantly driven by microbial spoilage, resulting in substantial quality deterioration during storage and distribution. This study aimed to characterize the major fungal pathogens, including yeasts, associated with post-harvest diseases of pineapple in the Vazhakulam market, and to assess the in vitro antifungal efficacy of selected microbial biocontrol agents and tea tree oil.

Fungal isolates recovered from symptomatic fruits were identified based on cultural and morphological characteristics as Ceratocystis paradoxa, Curvularia spp., Penicillium spp., and Candida spp. Pathogenicity was confirmed through inoculation assays, fulfilling Koch’s postulates.

The antifungal activity of selected microbial biocontrol agents, namely Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Ampelomyces quisqualis, along with tea tree oil, was evaluated using the agar well diffusion method. The microbial agents did not exhibit measurable inhibition under in vitro conditions. In contrast, tea tree oil demonstrated pronounced antifungal activity, with maximum inhibition observed against Penicillium spp.

These findings underscore the diversity of fungal pathogens involved in pineapple spoilage and highlight the potential of tea tree oil as a natural antifungal alternative. Further investigation under in vivo conditions is warranted to optimize its application for post-harvest disease management.