Summary: Disease control with fungicides is also an important facet of postharvest decay management. Fungicides applied to fruit surfaces prevent the growth and development of pathogenic fungi in the fruit. Currently, thiabendazole (TBZ) and captan are the only registered fungicides for postharvest use on pome fruit. Over 30% of isolates of Penicillium expansum and (causal agent of blue mold) recovered from postharvest drenches are insensitive to TBZ. Captan use is limited due to import restrictions in several key export markets, especially Taiwan. New fungicides that show promise for control of postharvest disease must be identified, tested and their development encouraged by the registrants.
