Effect of fruit bagging on sanitation and pigmentation of six mango cultivars

Mango fruits from cultivars Manila, Ataulfo, Haden, Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keitt, were bagged in brown paper bags, anti-virus screen and white colored waxed paper in order to prevent and protect them from pests and disease during the attachment stage. The results indicated that the bagged fruit showed 100% phyto sanitation up to the physiological ripening in the Manila, Ataulfo, Haden and Tommy Atkins cultivars that are harvested before and even after the rainy season has started, but that was not the case for the Kent and Keitt cultivars that were harvested when the rainy season was well under way, as from 30 to 50% of the bagged fruits showed C. gloeosporoides, Capnodium sp., Coceus mangiferae, Tetranichus sp. and Atta sp. Haden, Tommy Atkins, Kent and Keit cultivars in brown paper bags did not show any of the characteristic epicarpus pigmentation or spotting upon reaching the physiological maturity or even five days later, which indicates that the lack of direct contact with sun light prevented the chlorophyll degradation and that the chloroplasts were gradually replaced by the xanthophylls, carotenes and anthocyanins pigments, while in the other bag types, pigmentation was light; but that was not the case for the Manila and Ataulfo cvs. which showed normal pigmentation in the three bag types. The brix degrees and the resistance of the fruit to penetration, were inconsistent in the three bag types. The fruits in the anti-virus mesh registered the lowest weight, maybe due to the reflection of the sun rays and consequently to a lesser absorption of energy which affected the growth and development of fruits.