The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of thermotherapy (56 ºC for 6 min) and chemotherapy (propiconazole 250 ml.l-1) associated with storage temperature (environmental temperature, 18 ºC and 13 ºC) in the rot control of postharvest banana (Musa spp.) fruits. Treatments have shown significant differences in the percentage of peel area with lesions per fruit, weight loss and external peel coloration in all storage temperatures. Chemotherapy and the combination of both thermotherapy and chemotherapy avoided rot manifestation in the three storage temperatures. Thermotherapy, after 15 days, reduced the percentage of peel area with lesions per fruit from 98% to 11% at environmental temperature, from 8% to 7% at 18 ºC and 7% to 0% at 13 ºC, being most efficient at 13 ºC. Non-treated fruits lost 25%, 10% and 3% of their weight and got color 7, 5 and 1 at environmental temperature, 18 ºC and 13 ºC respectively, after 15 day. Fruits treated with thermotherapy and chemotherapy lost 24, 11 and 5% and 20, 10 and 3% of weight and got color 4 and 3,5, respectively. The conservation period was extended to 18, 24 and 45 days at environmental temperature, 18 ºC and 13 ºC, respectively. The combination of methods avoided rot manifestation, reduced weight loss and maintained external peel coloration and fruit quality.
thermal treatment; chemical treatment; antracnose
