Postharvest diseases and physicochemical characteristics of ‘Régis’ peach produced in Presidente Prudente-SP

Abstract

The occurrence of postharvest diseases in peaches (Prunus persicae) compromises the quality and quantity of fruit harvest. The objectives of this paper were to characterize the postharvest diseases and to evaluate the physico-chemical characteristics of ‘Régis’ peaches grown in Presidente Prudente-SP. Fruits were individualized and kept in a humid chamber for 24 h, and more six days at 25±2 ^?C and 65±5% RH. The incidence of rots was assessed after two and seven days of storage. The fruits presented a firmness of 4.50 Kgf on average and soluble solids content of 11.86 Brix, titratable acidity of 0.56% of citric acid and ascorbic acid of 7.08 mg.100 g^-1 of pulp, 24 h after harvest. The incidence of fungi rots was 16.6% two days after harvest, and 50.3% six days after harvest. Infestation by fruit flies reached 18.1% of fruits. The main pathogens detected were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (22.0%), Fusicoccum sp. (10.4%) and Rhizopus stolonifer (6.1%). The physico-chemical characteristics evaluated did not influence the occurrence of fungi rots. The high incidence of rots is the main cause of postharvest damages in ‘Régis’ peach cultivated in Presidente Prudente-SP, evidencing the necessity of a careful phytosanitary procedure in the field and during post harvest stage aiming to produce commercial quality fruits.