Abstract: Debaryomyces hansenii Y-1, Debaryomyces nepalensis T18 and Bacillus atrophaeus TE-7, isolated in our laboratory, were used to investigate their effects when used alone or in combination (Y-1 + TE-7, Y-1 + T18, T18 + TE-7) on the storage quality and disease resistance of mango fruit. The results showed that soaking treatment with Y-1 + TE-7 (1:1, V/V) for 20 min significantly inhibited the spore germination of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Moreover, Y-1 + TE-7 treatment could not only remarkably delay the changes in a* value, firmness, titratable acidity (TA) and soluble solids (TSS) content, but also enhance the activity of peroxidase (POD), phenylalanine amidase (PAL) and β-1,3-glucan (GLU) from 6 to 21 days of storage compared with either alone. This combination reduced the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) between 9 and 18 days of storage in comparison with either treatment alone. These observations suggest that Y-1 + TE-7 treatment can effectively improve the storage quality and increase disease resistance in mango fruit, and it can be potentially applied to postharvest handling of mango fruit.

Key words: mango, combined treatment, disease resistance, storage quality