Postharvest damages in guavas from the Midwest region of the State of Sao Paulo

Postharvest diseases represent a serious drawback to guava crop, once they reduce quality and quantity of fruits for marketing. This study identified and quantified mechanical injuries resulting from the processes of harvesting and transporting of guavas and the incidence of postharvest diseases and pests in 'Pedro Sato' guava commercialized at CEASA/Bauru and in 'Pedro Sato' and 'Paluma' guavas cultivated in the Midwest Region of the State of Sao Paulo. Guava fruit collected at four harvest stages (harvest with gloves, harvest bag, tractor trailer and packing table) and at a wholesale market (CEASA) were stored for nine days at 25 degrees C. The incidence of damages was visually evaluated every three days. The occurrence of rot fruit was higher in Pedro Sato cultivar (92.0% to 96.6%) than in 'Paluma' (77.1%) at the end of storage period. Anthracnose was the main disease in the two cultivars, followed for the black spot. The incidence of mechanical injuries increased along the harvest stages however, it was not related to the occurrence of rots. High infestation of fruit fly in 'Paluma' guava was also verified.