August 27, 2026 | Agro Spectrum |
The ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR) in Bengaluru has developed a new postharvest hot water treatment protocol to control fruit fly infestation and anthracnose disease in mangoes through a single treatment. The technology aims to reduce handling time, prevent fruit spoilage, and maintain quality during storage and transportation.
The protocol involves immersing mature green mangoes in water at 55°C for 20 minutes, followed by a 30-minute dip in a 5% salt solution. Unlike the previous treatment requiring 48°C for 60 minutes against fruit flies and a separate treatment for anthracnose, the new method controls both problems without causing internal breakdown in Alphonso mangoes.
Scale-up trials have validated the treatment in Alphonso, Banganapalli, Arka Uday, and Arka Suprabhat varieties. In June 2026, a commercial shipment of 1.2 tonnes of treated Banganapalli mangoes was exported to Brunei, where the fruit reportedly arrived in satisfactory condition without fruit fly infestation or anthracnose.
The technology could reduce postharvest losses and simplify export handling. However, broader commercial adoption in markets requiring approved quarantine treatments remains subject to regulatory approval and further evaluation under commercial conditions.
