Effect of benzimidazole fungicides and calcium chloride on Alternaria alternata and Penicillium expansum rot during storage of pears

Abstract

The present study assayed the effect of the fungicides benomyl, methyl-thiophanate, thiabendazole and calcium chloride on fungal decay of pears caused by Alternaria alternata and Penicillium expansum. Both in vitro and in vivo, the efficacy of fungicides alone against the two fungi was shown
to be weak and without any practical interest. In vitro, CaCl2 alone was tolerated by both species at more than 4%. In vivo and at low temperature, CaCl2 significantly reduced fungal decay when used at 4 and 6%. The association fungicides - CaCl2 (4%) allowed a better control of A. alternata.