BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF POSTHARVEST CROWN ROT IN LATUNDAN (Musa x paradisiaca L.)

The antagonistic activity of Bacillus subtilis Pseudomonas sp. and the combination of both bacteria at three different concentrations ( 10 ^ 6, 10 ^ 7 and 10 ^ 8 CFU/ml) was tested against crown rot pathogen, C. musae infecting on banana variety Latundan (Musa x paradisiaca L.). This antagonistic activity assessed by recording the occurrence of necrosis in terms of internal necrotic surface area, INS (m * m ^ 2) 14 days after inoculation of the pathogen. Results of this study revealed that Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas sp. at 10 ^ 8 * CFU / m * l and the combination of these bacteria at 10 ^ 6 CFU/ml showed a significantly higher antagonistic activity than the chemical treatment locally used by the banana traders against crown rotting. These biological control treatments demonstrated lower INS values the chemical treatment. The highest percentage of protection was observed in Bacillus subtilis at 10 ^ 8 * CFU / m * l concentrations among treatments. Statistical analysis revealed a high significant difference among INS values of treatments. Furthermore, the use of these biological control agents lengthened the shelf life of Latundan bananas by about 3 days compared to the untreated bananas and by about 1-2 days for the chemically-treated Latundan bananas.