Location: Physiology and Pathology of Tree Fruits Research
Project Number: 2094-43000-008-051-T
Project Type: Trust Fund Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2024
End Date: Jun 30, 2025
Objective:
Evaluate natamycin for control of Mucor rot of pear, with specific deliverables being:
1) Determine optimal concentrations of natamycin to use on Anjou pears for control of Mucor rot.
2) Determine whether natamycin is efficacious for Mucor rot prevention when applied short after harvest and/or post-storage during packing.
3) Demonstrate the best strategy for combinations of postharvest waxes to be used with natamycin.
Approach:
This research project proposes conducting experiments in three areas related to the efficacy of natamycin for control of Mucor rot on pears: 1) determining the optimal concentrations of natamycin for control of Mucor rot, 2) testing the efficacy of natamycin in a lab setting when the fungicide is applied pre- or post-storage, 3) comparing severity of disease incidence when natamycin is used alone vs. when it is used in combination with Natural Shine 505-OR® or PrimaFresh® Pear Coat. Note: The product to be used is OMRI-certified.
