ABSTRACT
Papaya is one of the nutritious fruit crops gaining popularity as a nutritional security source, in both developed and under-developed countries. The entire quantity produced does not reach the end users, owing to huge postharvest losses. Even if productivity is enhanced, it would not help in achieving the nutritional security unless the loss during transit and storage is reduced. Many fungal and bacterial pathogens cause the postharvest losses in papaya. Causes of postharvest losses include fruit surface rots and internal tissue damage. Anthracnose, charcoal rot, chocolate spot, dry rot, Alternaria spots, and wet or soft rot are the most important postharvest diseases affecting papaya. Important pathogens affecting papaya include fungi of the genera Colletotrichum, Alternaria, Rhizopus, Mycospharella, Phomopsis, Guignardia, and others. The management measures of such diseases vary from use of physical treatments such as hot water treatment; modified and controlled atmosphere during storage; use of chemical fungicides, salts, chitosan, isothiocyanates; and other measures. The causes of various postharvest diseases and their management practices are discussed in this chapter.
