CONTROL OF BROWN-ROT AND BLUE MOLD OF SWEET CHERRY WITH PREHARVEST IPRODIONE, POSTHARVEST CRYPTOCOCCUS-INFIRMO-MINIATUS, AND MODIFIED ATMOSPHERE PACKAGING

The effectiveness of preharvest iprodione and postharvest Cryptococcus infirmo-miniatus treatments alone and in combination for control of d ecay of sweet cherry fruit was studied. Also, the effect of a modified atmosphere on brown rot control was evaluated as a part of the iprodi one-C. infirmo-miniatus combinations. A single preharvest application of iprodione at 1.13 kg a.i./ha reduced brown rot in stored sweet cher ry fruit in both years of this study. Significantly better control of brown rot was obtained when cherry fruit that received a preharvest ip rodione application also were treated with a postharvest dip in a susp ension of C. infirma-miniatus containing 0.5 to 1.5 x 10(8) CFU/ml. Br own rot was reduced by modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) alone and f urther reduced as a result of a C. infirmo-miniatus-MAP synergism. Inc idence of brown rot was reduced from 41.5% in the control to 0.4% by c ombining preharvest iprodione and postharvest C. infirmo-miniatus trea tments with MAP.