Combination of cassia oil with magnesium sulphate for control of postharvest storage rots of cherry tomatoes

The inhibitory effects of cassia oil alone or in combination with magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) against Alternaria alternata in vitro and in vivo were tested. Magnesium sulphate(0.25–3%) enhanced the inhibitory effects of 200 μl l−1 cassia oil in vitro. Cassia oil at 500 μl l−1, in combination with 0.25% MgSO4, showed a significant inhibition effect on A. alternata of cherry tomatoes stored at 20 °C for 3 days. The experiments on reducing natural decay development of cherry tomatoes gave similar results. None of the treatments affected quality parameters of cherry tomatoes. Thus combining cassia oil with MgSO4 provided a more effective control of postharvest disease than using cassia oil or the other chemicals alone.