Post-Harvest Fruit Rot Diseases of Papaya c.v. Red Lady and Their Physiochemical Changes Under Pathogenesis

Papaya (Carica papaya L. cv. Red Lady) is highly susceptible to post-harvest diseases, leading to substantial losses in quality and shelf life. The present research work aimed to isolate and characterize major fungal pathogens associated with post-harvest fruit rot and analyze their impact on physicochemical attributes of papaya. Diseased fruits were collected from markets in Eastern India, and pathogens were isolated and identified morphologically and molecularly. Major pathogens identified included Fusarium equiseti, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus japonicus and Penicillium oxalicum. Pathogenicity tests confirmed their virulence, with lesion diameter reaching up to 31.2 mm in injured fruits. Infection caused significant weight loss (up to 95.4%) and deterioration in quality parameters such as ascorbic acid (70.8 to 19.5 mg/100 g), total soluble solids (8.9 to 2.1 °Brix), and titratable acidity (0.66% to 0.18%) during storage. The study highpoints the critical role of fungal pathogens in post-harvest losses and emphasizes the need for improved management strategies.