Export papaya post-harvest protection by fungicides and the problems of the maximal limit of residues

The post-harvest maturity of papaya fruits is influenced by several environmental factors including temperature, light and ventilation of the surrounding wall. The maturity, presence and attacks or rots, and the accumulation of fungicide residues in the papaya was evaluated on papaya fruits treated with different fungicide. Thiabendazole-treated fruits did not rot 21 days after treatment and this fungicide was the most satisfactory with detected residues lower than the European Union's 2000/48/EC guideline. Key Words: Post-harvest, papaya, fungicides, phytotoxic, thiabendazole, residues maximal limit. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.4(1) 2005: 109-11