ABSTRACT
Effect of fungicide sprays on moldy core of apples stored in cold

Blancaluz Pínilla C.1, Yohanna Trombert V. 2 y Mario Alvarez A.1
 

Two trials were conducted during the 1991/92 and 1992/93 seasons with apple trees cvs. Atwood and Richared Delicious. The trials were established in the Province of Linares. VII Región, Chile, designed to determine the effects of certain fungicides when applied during apple bloom, on moldy core of the fruits stored in cold. In the first season one treatment received mancozeb at full bloom and the other was the unsprayed check. In the second season three treatments were applied. One at 50% bloom, antother at full bloom, bothsprayed twice, and were as follows: mancozeb, hexaconazole and the nonsprayed check. In the first season trial, the harvested apples were stored in conventional cold chamber or modified atmosphere, while in the second tria/, they were stored only under conventional cold. Fungicide treatments had no effect on the percentage of visible moldy core of apples at harvest or in cold storage in both seasons of testing. When comparing the types of cold storage, the first season trial showed less moldy core and higher pulp pressure in the modified atmosphere cold room. Pulp pressure and soluble solids values showed no relationship with the presence of moldy coreo In the second season trial, a higher percentage of affected fruits was established in those with calyx Copen core" condition") as compared wiht fruits with closed calyx tubes. Also, a higher percentage of moldy core was determined in apples collected from the ground as compared with fruits harvested from the trees. Alternaría alternata was the fungus most frequently isolated from moldy carpelar cavities or seeds from fruits affected by moldy coreo

Keywords: apples, moldy core, Alternaría alternata, cold storage, post-harvest rol.
1 Centro Regional de Investigación La Platina (INIA), Casilla 349, Correo 3, Santiago, Chile.
2 Unifrutti Traders ltda., Planta Linares, Longitudinal Sur, km 300, Linares, Chile.