Work

Sustainable and Innovative Postharvest Management of Anthracnose Disease in Guavas Through Modulated UV-C Light Treatment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Anthracnose, caused by the Colletotrichum sp. gloeosporioides complex, severely affects guava quality, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to synthetic postharvest fungicides. This study is the first to evaluate modulated UV-C radiation as an innovative approach to controlling postharvest diseases and extending guava shelf-life. The modulation frequency significantly influenced mycelial growth and conidial germination, following a quadratic model (R2 = 0.98), with maximum efficacy at ~30 Hz, reducing germination to 5.3 × 104 CFU per plate. In vivo, the combinations of 0.99 kJ m−2/30 Hz and 0.66 kJ m−2/45 Hz inhibited anthracnose incidence and severity. Most physicochemical parameters remained unaffected after seven days of storage. However, treated fruits showed a higher hue angle (h) and lower a*, indicating the maintenance of shades closer to green due to slower chlorophyll degradation, and firmness was preserved, suggesting delayed ripening. Modulated UV-C also significantly reduced the respiration rate, lowering the climacteric peak. These findings demonstrate that anthracnose control depends on the modulation frequency, with 0.99 kJ m−2/30 Hz being particularly effective. Modulated UV-C radiation represents a promising, sustainable, and effective strategy for improving guava postharvest quality and shelf-life.

Source: Horticulturae

DOI: 10.3390/horticulturae11111351