Pre-Harvest Field Application Effects Of Hexanal Formulation On Fruit Losses In Mango Grown In Eastern Tanzania

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) production is constrained by several pre-harvest factors. This study determined the effects of enhanced freshness formulation (EFF) on yield losses in "Apple," "Palmer" and "Keitt" varieties. Factorial experiments tested the effects of EFF concentrations, seasons, varieties, and times of EFF application on percentage of dropped fruit, non-marketable yield and incidences of pest defects. Percentage of dropped mango was significantly (p < 0.001) affected by EFF concentration, time of application and season, EFF x season, EFF x variety, time x season, time x variety, and time x variety x season interactions. Non-marketable mango fruits were significantly (p < 0.001) affected by EFF concentration, variety, EFF concentration x season, variety x season and variety x time of application. Incidences of pest defects were significantly (p < 0.001) affected by EFF concentration and EFF concentration x season and variety x season. EFF concentration of 0.01% is recommended to reduce yield losses.