Changes in nutritional value of guava fruits infected by major post-harvest pathogens.

Post-infection changes in ascorbic acid, sugars, proteins and phenols were studied in guava fruits infected by major post-harvest pathogens which in order of importance were Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, (Penz.), Botryodiplodia theobromae, Pat., Rhizopus arrhizus Fischer., Phomopsis psidii Nag Raj and Ponnappa apud Ponnappa and Nag Raj, and Pestalotiopsis versicolor (Speg.) Steyaert. Contents of ascorbic acid, sugars and proteins declined in the fruits infected by Botryodiplodia theobromae, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Pestalotiopsis versicolor, Phomopsis psidii and Rhizopus arrhizus. Total phenols increased in fruits infected by Pestalotiopsis versicolor and Rhizopus arrhizus while reverse was observed in fruits infected by other pathogens.