India develops mango treatment that avoids internal breakdown in Alphonso

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (ICAR-IIHR) in Bengaluru has developed a postharvest hot water treatment protocol to control fruit fly infestation and anthracnose in mangoes. The treatment also addresses internal breakdown in Alphonso mangoes associated with previous treatment methods.

The protocol involves immersing mature green mangoes in water at 55°C for 20 minutes, followed by a 30-minute dip in a 5 per cent salt solution. Previously, fruit fly control required treatment at 48°C for 60 minutes, while anthracnose management required a separate treatment at 52°C for five to ten minutes.

The protocol has been validated through trials involving Alphonso, Banganapalli, Arka Uday, and Arka Suprabhat mangoes. According to ICAR-IIHR, it controls both postharvest problems without causing internal breakdown in Alphonso fruit.

On June 25, 2026, a 1.2-ton consignment of Banganapalli mangoes treated using the protocol was shipped from Chennai to Brunei. The buyer reported that the fruit arrived without fruit fly or anthracnose and maintained its quality.

Commercial application in export markets requiring approved phytosanitary treatments remains subject to clearance from the Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and Storage (DPPQ&S). ICAR-IIHR states that approval could reduce quarantine hot water treatment time by approximately one-third.