VIUSID agro bio stimulant for the management of crown rot in the post-harvest of bananas

Fungal diseases affecting bananas pose a critical challenge to global food security, as they reduce shelf life and quality.The main post-harvest disease in bananas is crown rot.Improved post-harvest management through innovative approaches, such as cutting-edge technologies and efficient logistics systems, could help address global challenges in mitigating these losses.The post-harvest application of the biostimulant VIUSID agro® was evaluated (at 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mL/L -1 ), using immersion systems, and subsequently the fruit was refrigerated at 15.5°C for 22 days.After this time, it was placed at approximately 28°C, and crown rot damage was evaluated at 3, 5, and 10 days.All treatments with VA (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mL/ L -1 ) significantly reduced the daily progression of damage, with severity increases between 1.72% and 1.78% per day, compared to 2.85% in the untreated control.This performance was statistically equivalent to that of the chemical fungicide Benomyl PH 50 (1.75% per day).Its efficacy, comparable to that of a conventional chemical fungicide, positions it as a promising and sustainable alternative for extending shelf life and maintaining fruit quality.