Can pre-harvest sanitisers help control decay?
“The pre-harvest component is a critical phase for pathogen establishment,” says Dr Johan Fourie, postharvest pathologist at ExperiCo Agri-Research Solutions. “The source of inoculum is in the vineyard – that’s where the pathogen establishes.”
Fungi are responsible for most postharvest decay. Plant-pathogenic fungi can thrive on all sorts of organic material in the vineyard, producing spores that land on bunches. Growers mitigate the risk of postharvest decay by integrated management practices that include removing organic material, maintaining open canopies, and applying fungicides.