Control of Phytophthora palmivora on postharvest papaya with Trichoderma asperellum, T. virens, T. harzianum and T. longibrachiatum

Papaya (Carica papaya) is one of the most cultivated and consumed tropical fruit worldwide. Its production might be limited by preharvest and postharvest diseases. The fruit rot caused by Phytophthora palmivora is one of the most important postharvest diseases of papaya in Brazil. The control of these diseases is usually made with fungicide applications. Therefore, studies concerning biocontrol of postharvest diseases might generate data that may reduce the environmental impacts caused by pesticides. Thus, the biological control by Trichoderma in postharvest diseases is an alternative to the use of fungicides for the postharvest control of P. palmivora in the papaya fruit. Four antagonists [T. asperellum (SF04), T. virens (255C1), T. harzianum (THP) and T. longibrachiatum (4088)] were tested, as follow: 1) Trichoderma spp. applied 1 hour after inoculation of P. palmivora and; 2) Trichoderma spp. applied 24 hours after inoculation of P. palmivora; 3) Trichoderma spp. applied 1 hour before inoculation of P. palmivora, and 4) Trichoderma spp. applied 24 hours before inoculation of P. palmivora. All Trichoderma significantly (P£0,05) reduced the incidence and severity of disease. The 4088 (T. longibrachiatum) isolate was the best controller agent of P. palmivora in postharvest.