Project Number: 5320-43000-014-13
Project Type: Trust

Start Date: Oct 01, 2006
End Date: Aug 31, 2009

Objective:
1. Identify fungal pathogens associated with rambutan and longan fruits and establish the baseline sensitivity (in vitro) of the major fungal pathogens to registered fungicides. 2. Determine cultivar resistance to identified fruit pathogens of rambutan and longan. 3. Determine the effectiveness of preharvest fungicide applications on postharvest disease development and fruit quality. 4. Determine optimum storage conditions and develop packaging strategies to extend the shelf-life of rambutans and longans.

Approach:
A survey will be conducted at experimental and commercial orchards to determine what types of diseases currently affect production of rambutans and longans. Fungi will be identified using morphological, physiological and molecular techniques. Leaf and fruit bioassays will be used to assess the relative resistance of different rambutan and longan cultivars to the main fungal genera isolated and identified. Also, fungal isolates will be evaluated for sensitivity to fungicides registered for use in Hawaii by growing them on media amended with label-approved concentrations of the fungicides. The most effective fungicide(s) will be selected for inclusion in field trials at commercial orchards of rambutan and longan. Fruit harvested from fungicide treated and untreated trees will be evaluated for disease incidence, postharvest quality, and shelf-life. Packaging studies will compare micro-perforated LDPE film, non-perforated LDPE film, advanced films, and clamshell containers for maintaining fruit quality and extending shelf-life. Packages that provide the longest shelf-life will be tested under simulated air shipment and retail conditions. Documents Trust with the University of Hawaii Hilo; Log 31293.