Lime paste, alum solution or guava leaf extract control bacterial soft rot in harvested cabbage
Bacterial soft rot is the most serious postharvest problem of cabbages and other crucifers in the humid tropics. The disease usually starts at the cut butt end of cabbage. It can be prevented or minimized by simply applying lime paste, 15% alum or guava leaf extract at the butt before packing and handling. The techniques are very simple and cheap but very effective (sometimes eliminating the problem completely) and can yield high returns.
- Prepare lime paste by mixing lime powder and water at 1:1 ratio.
- Prepare 15% alum solution (saturated solution) by dissolving 15 gm alum granules in 100 ml water. If weighing scale is not available, prepare the solution by adding and dissolving alum into a small volume of water until such time that the alum will not dissolve anymore (saturated).
- Prepare guava leaf extract by extracting pure extract from mature leaves of guava (slice the leaves and extract juice using mortar and pestle) and add water at 1:1 mixture.
- Apply the lime paste, alum solution or guava leaf extract at the cut butt end of cabbage using any suitable, clean applicator (e.g. soft, fine brush, cotton, cotton cloth).
- Allow to dry before packing and subsequent handling.