Dose optimisation of volatile molecules-based bio-fungicide product formulations against anthracnose (Colletotrichum coccodes) in tomato fruits.

Objective of study was to optimise the dose of EC37, EC39
and EC 40 against Colletotrichum coccodes in tomato fruit by
response surface methodology. In the in-vitro assay, three
products were tested against C. coccodes by minimum inhibition
concentration, then by using model to test the effects
of three levels of two factors (concentration and treatment
time) for post-harvest treatment of tomato fruits. The results
indicated that 0.55% product concentration with 15 min
exposure time was the effective optimised dose treatment
with least fruit rot spoilage with retention of fruit texture
and colour during storage, on par with the positive control
(0.1% Difenoconazole). Storage studies (28 ± 2 °C, 70 ± 5% RH)
with above optimised dosage of these product treatments
showed less anthracnose incidence, better retention of fruit
quality of treated tomato fruits as compared with the positive
control and the control fruits after 12 days of storage.