We showed that 53 C for 20 minwas the optimum exposure for
‘Carabao’ mangoes and the best combination in controlling culture
growth of pathogens. In vivo application at this exposure, however,
did not yield significant reduction in anthracnose (48.71%e52.63%)
and stem-end rot (48%e60.86%) after 14 days. The present study
demonstrated that even the optimum exposure for ‘Carabao’
mangoes was inadequate in giving a high degree of postharvest
disease control. A considerable level of latent infection may have
been present on fruit surfaces as unwrapped fruit were used in our
experiments. The poor efficiency of HWT could be attributed to its
fungistatic action leaving active propagules after treatment which
develop overtime and cause decay on fruit. Moreover, the inconsistent
performance seen, for example variation in disease severity
within a treatment, has to be addressed. Severity indexes of
anthracnose and stem-end rot showed standard deviations ranging
from ±1.05 to ±2.98, remarkably higher than those treated with
fungicide (±0.69 to ±0.99). The volatility of HWT in practical use
agreed with the in vitro result of the present study i.e., high variation
in radial growth and spore germination of C. gloeosporioides
and L. theobromae.