Kaolin as a Cost-Effective Approach for Sunburn On Mango in the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract Sunburn is a physiological disorder observed in several subtropical and tropical fruit species in the Mediterranean Basin, including mango. To mitigate its effects, kaolin has proven to be a promising and cost-effective solution, helping reduce sunburn damage while enhancing fruit yield and quality. In this study we aimed to investigate the efficacy of kaolin (applied both as powder and as a water-based solution) against incidence and severity of sunburn damage, and its effects on physio-chemical characteristics of fruits from two major mango varieties (‘Glenn’ and ‘Maya’). The binary logistic regression model revealed a higher efficiency of Liquid Kaolin among all treatments with a 68% reduction in the odds of sunburn occurrence. Dust and Liquid Kaolin treatments significantly delayed sunburn onset compared to the control group, respectively 41 days and 47 days after the first treatment. A notable increase in sunburned fruits was observed as fruit development progressed. Sunburn incidence was approximately 24% higher during the fruit maturity stage compared to the fruit development stage. Kaolin treatments had no influence on physio-chemical characteristics of the fruits including colouring, sugar content and acidity.