Development of an indirect biological method to determine the concentration of prochloraz in mango packhouse chemical baths.
Serfontein J. J., Broekhuizen W. van
Author Affiliation: QMS Agri Science, PO Box 416, Letsitele 0885, South Africa.
Research Journal - South African Mango Growers' Association 24 : 64-68
Abstract : This work aimed to develop a robust biological method to determine the prochloraz concentration in mango fungicide baths. Such method will not only be useful for packhouse managers to calibrate the topping concentrations of fungicide baths. It will also help to determine whether bacterial populations present in fungicide baths are able to break down prochloraz. Among the various biological methods evaluated, inhibition zone size determination on agar of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides [Glomerella cingulata] around filter paper discs containing prochloraz solutions gave the most reliable results. Heat treatment of prochloraz solutions eliminated bacteria borne in the solution. Heat treatment reduced the prochloraz content of solutions but not the fungicidal effect.