Formulation development, optimization and evaluation of Aloe vera gel for the management of post-harvest disease of mango anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Penz.) Penz. & Sacc.

The Mango (Mangifera indica L.), one of the most economically important fruit crops, is produced predominantly in India, the world's leading mango producer. India grapples with anthracnose, a major farm and post-harvest disease that significantly limits mango production, particularly in high-humidity regions of India. The diseased mangoes collected from Kumbakarai, Periyakulam and nearby Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India, were used to identify a virulent strain of C. gloeosporioides through molecular analysis. Sequencing of the 560 bp PCR product yielded the GenBank Accession Number Ol468719. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequence showed 99 % identity with C. gloeosporioides sequences in the database. A. vera dry gels were prepared and diluted to concentrations of 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % using potato dextrose agar medium. In vitro efficacy of different concentrations of A. vera gel against C. gloeosporioides was tested. Among the 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 % and 50 % concentrations, significant inhibition was recorded at 10 %. Several antimicrobial compounds were identified from A. vera gel, including 1-dodecanol, 1-tetradecene, 1-hexadecanol, heneicosane, dibutyl phthalate and 1-heptacosanol, by GC-MS technique. An emulsifiable concentrate of A. vera gel was subsequently formulated and evaluated for its efficacy against the pathogen, offering a potential alternative approach for postharvest disease management.