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Research Article

Vol. 43 No. 2 (2026): Revista de Ciencias Agrícolas - May - August 2026

Control of anthracnose in papaya using UV-C irradiation and coatings containing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei TEP8

DOI
https://doi.org/10.22267/rcia.2026432.307
Submitted
April 17, 2026
Published
2026-08-22

Abstract

Fungal diseases are a major cause of postharvest losses in papaya, encouraging the search for alternatives to synthetic fungicides. This study evaluated UV-C irradiation combined with edible coatings containing the antifungal lactic acid bacterium Lacticaseibacillus paracasei TEP8 against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Maradol papaya. In the first assay, fruits at two ripening degrees were subjected to combinations of coating matrix (starch, carboxymethylcellulose, or uncoated) and UV-C dose (0, 0.97, 2, or 2.88 kJ m⁻²), plus fungicide controls. Disease incidence and severity were monitored for 10 days. In second assay, wounded degree-3 fruits were used to evaluate spore germination and lesion diameter according to the order of coating application. Factorial analysis showed that incidence was significantly affected by coating matrix, UV-C dose, ripening degree, and their interactions, whereas severity was affected by coating matrix, ripening degree, and their three-way interaction, but not by the main effect of UV-C dose. The lowest final incidence (80%) occurred in degree-1 fruits treated with 2 kJ m⁻² UV-C followed by starch-TEP8 coating, while 0.97 kJ m⁻² plus starch-TEP8 produced one of the lowest final severity values. Applying the coating after inoculation yielded the lowest final spore germination (52.5%), although lesion diameter did not differ from the inoculated control. Overall, treatment performance depended on the interaction among fruit maturity, coating matrix, and UV-C. Because coating-only controls without TEP8 were absent, the observed effects cannot be attributed exclusively to the bacterium. Further studies should verify TEP8 viability, fruit quality, and treatment effectiveness under postharvest storage conditions before application.

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