The project started in September 2008 with a project planning workshop In Indonesia. It is primarily a scientific research project rather than a training/development orientation. For the 2008 mango/rambutan season in Indonesia (November - February) the project has:
Identified the major quality constraints in both crops.
Developed for testing, a range of appropriate management interventions to deal with observed quality constraints in both crops.
Commenced trials on post-harvest fungicides.
Surveyed mango growers in Lombok for a range of socio-economic factors.
Completed an economic analysis of Lombok supply chains for mango and for rambutan.
In Australia the project has started trial work on management interventions to control insect pests in mango and has assessed alternative post harvest fungicides. Further work is planned for this season on mango quality to accurately assess defect levels at different times in the season and at different locations and the effect of different harvesting technologies on mango quality.
For mango in Indonesia it is clear the following issues are relevant in relation to mango quality for export:
Dry areas of north Lombok produce the best quality for export. Wetter areas have very poor quality.
The main quality defects for Harumanis variety were harvest latex (approx 30 %), and insect problems including sooty mould from plant hoppers (approx 30%), and red banded caterpillar damage (0-30%). Suspected mango scab (subject to proper identification) was more common in wetter areas (40-50%).
The mango variety Gedong gincu was superior in export quality to Harumanis with up to 40% meeting export grade, but small size is a constraint for export. Only 15-20% of fruit met the minimum size for export of 250grams.
Post harvest diseases were assessed and the effectiveness of a number of candidate post harvest chemicals tested in Australia and Indonesia. In Indonesia Harumanis and Gedong gincu showed relatively low levels of post harvest diseases, despite poor storage conditions. The fungicide dip, fludioxonil, was the best treatment, reducing incidence of anthracnose to below 5% after 9 days storage at ambient compared to 50% in untreated controls. In Indonesian varieties it may be possible to rely on post harvest treatments to control post harvest rots.
In Australia, the post harvest fungicides failed to give adequate disease protection in the variety Kensington Pride in 2 separate trials. The disease pressure on the fruit prior to harvest was so great that the post harvest treatments were ineffective. This trial emphasised the importance of pre harvest treatments for controlling post harvest diseases in Kensington Pride in Australia.
Rambutan quality was good with 30-40% of fruit meeting export grades. Fruit size was an issue, particularly later in the season. Early in the season (Nov), suspected powdery mildew was very common (49% of fruit affected) but none late in the season (Feb). Later in the season, white scale (28-42%) and mealy bug (6-20%) were more common defects as well as black rots (19-34%).
Defect analysis has led to the establishment of a series of field trials in Indonesia to assess effectiveness of management interventions to improve fruit quality including:
Use of paclobutrazol and cincturing to force earlier flowering in mango and rambutan avoiding major causes of quality problems.
Fertilising with potassium and irrigation to increase fruit size of Gedong gincu and rambutan.
Applying boron to reduce misshapen fruit in Gedong gincu.
Using soil applied systemic insecticides to reduce insect losses and quality impacts.
Crop loss assessment trials to quantify the effect of insects and diseases in reducing yield and quality of mango.
Fruit bagging in mango to reduce insect damage
Assessment of red-banded mango caterpillar lures, in conjunction with the ACIAR mango project in west Java (Hort/2006/146).
Post-harvest fungicide and cool storage trials will also be conducted in Indonesia.
This season the project will trial small export shipments of rambutan and mango varieties Harumanis and Gedong gincu, to gauge market reaction to better quality from the pre and post harvest interventions under trial.
A socio economic analysis of mango growers in Lombok was conducted using 100 growers in 3 sites (North, East and South Lombok in areas of Bayan, Pringabaya and Sekotong respectively). The main parameters measured were land area, mango tree numbers, mango income, other farm income and total income. Most farms were very small with less than 100 mango trees. Farms in north Lombok (Bayan) were larger with more farmers with more than 100 trees, whereas in south and east Lombok no farmers had more than 100 trees. Mangoes contributed 12%-30% to total family income in an area where family incomes per year averaged from Rp10 million to less than Rp1 million. Income per tree was low from an average of only 3000 Rp/tree to 30,000 Rp/tree.
The results indicate mango production in Lombok should be making a far greater income to farm income. Most farmers were receiving 500-1000 Rp/kg, but reported yields were very low at less than 10kg/tree. Low yields may be due to insect attack at flowering (plant/leaf hoppers), early fruit drop cause by red-banded mango caterpillar, and fruit fly and red-banded caterpillar at harvest. Reported yields are less than trees harvested as part of the quality sampling where around 80-120kg was the average yield. It may also reflect that many mangoes are not being picked because of low market prices and an oversupplied market.
The economic analysis of supply chains looked at prices and costs along the supply chain for mango and rambutan in a number of different marketing scenarios in Lombok. The analysis looked at trading in local markets, in the main markets in Lombok and exporting to Java. The data clearly indicate that the options for farmers are limited because markets are generally oversupplied and prices depressed, not because middle traders are taking unfair advantage of farmers.
The analysis confirmed results found in the farmer survey that farmers were generally receiving around 1000 Rp/kg and mark ups along the supply chain were of the order of 100% with traders incurring costs in harvesting, transportation and handling and taking risks with losses. It has been difficult to quantify the actual losses incurred in the supply chain.
The findings of the supply chain analysis and the farmer socio-economic survey support the original hypothesis of this project that farmer incomes from mangoes were low due to low local market prices, not because of unreasonable mark ups in the supply chain. It supports the conclusion that attempting to grow mangoes for export may be financially and technically possible in attempting to lift farmer incomes, especially for farmers in the drier areas of north Lombok.
However the finding that fruit of the Gedong gincu variety are too small for export is a significant risk to the future of the project. Attempts are being made to increase size with better management and assess the market implications in export markets.

The project started in 2008 and this is the second year of operations. It is primarily a research rather than training and development project.
Results in Indonesia:
Paclobutrazol on Haromanis mango variety works very well bringing harvest three months earlier. It is very simple to use at low cost. Paclobutrazol increases profit by up to 300% due to higher prices for earlier harvest. This has big benefits on the local market spreading the season from the current flooded supply over two months from November - December to five months from August - December. Paclobutrazol has significant application in improving quality in wet areas by moving production into drier periods.
Mango export is profitable but the market for Haromanis in Singapore is small. The project will look at alternative markets this season with export trials planned to Malaysia and the Arab states. Paclobutrazol has significant benefits in export in both extending supply, improving quality and expanding possible supply to include wet areas.
The variety Gedong gincu is too small for export. Fertiliser and irrigation failed to increase fruit size. Whilst fruit quality is excellent, the proportion of fruit less than 250g is too high to make export profitable.
Rambutan exports into wet markets of Singapore and Malaysia may not be profitable as the local price is good (5000 -7000Rp/kg) and is similar to the price into these export markets. Supermarket prices in Singapore are higher for rambutans in pre-packs are over 30,000Rp/kg. This is an opportunity to be tested this season. Indonesian rambutan can supply out of season to other producers.
Paclobutrazol increases rambutan yield but not early harvest. A new set of trials has been established this season at higher rates to see if earlier harvest can be achieved. The yield response is one of the first reported responses of rambutan to paclobutrazol.
Rambutan post-harvest life can be extended significantly to 7-10 days using cool temperatures (15C) and measures to reduce spintern drying including plastic punnet pre-packs, plastic wraps, and plastic bags. The best result is combined use of cool temperatures and plastic punnet pre-packs. This work is relevant to the development of export markets, particularly higher value supermarkets overseas and as well as some selected domestic markets.
Rambutan quality is best early in the season (Nov - Jan). Late season quality is too poor for export. The main defects are very poor spintern development, small fruit size, and fruit rots.
Mango insects are a major problem. Bagging and soil applied insecticides are the main two strategies being tested against the major pests of leaf hoppers, the mango fruit borer, red-banded mango caterpillar (mango borers) and fruit fly. The soil insecticide trials with thiomethoxam (Actara) and imidacloprid (Confidor) against leaf hoppers are effective provided rainfall occurs at application. Bagging significantly reduces losses to fruit borers and fruit fly but see-through paper bags are required not plastic. Initial work on developing a pheromone for Citropestis fruit borer has started and pheromones for red-banded mango caterpillar are being tested.
Fludioxonil (Scholar) dipping post-harvest provides good disease control during storage of Haromanis mango, relevant to export markets, allowing to longer shipping times.
Results in Australia:
Systemic soil applied insecticides (Actara, Confidor) have proven very effective for control of leaf hopper, scales and, indirectly, green ants. Control of thrips and mango flattids may also be possible. Treated trees had significantly higher yields because of the reduced insect losses. Further work is required on soil and fruit residues.
Pre-harvest disease control strategies successfully tested timing and frequency of azoxystrobin (Amistar) and mancozeb (Manzate) applications. Fortnightly Manzate and two applications of Amistar plus the standard prochloraz (Sportak) post-harvest treatment achieved less than 10 % disease after 18 days storage at 20C.
Post-harvest disease control was assessed using the new post-harvest chemicals Scholar and Graduate A+ (fludioxonil + azoxystrobin). These proved very effective, compared to the standard Sportak, even in the absence of a pre-harvest disease control program. Further work will continue this season looking at the best combination of pre- and post-harvest control strategies.
A large defect analysis for mangoes in the NT was conducted, sampling at different times in the season, at different locations, from different growers, and the varieties Kensington Pride and Calypso. Lenticel spots and cleavage damage were the major causes of loss of quality. The causes of these defects are poorly understood.
Defect analysis of rambutan quality has shown that key issues are fruit rots (Botryodiplodia and Pestalotia) and mites are the major causes of quality losses.
Further work has started in Australia on early flowering in rambutan, the effect of soil applied insecticides on flattids, refining pre- and post-harvest disease control, and the control strategies for insects at flowering in mango and their impact on pollination.

The project started in September 2008 and this is the third year of operations. It is primarily a research rather than a training and development project. The main focus is developing and testing technologies towards better market outcomes.
Key new findings and activities for this year included:
In Indonesia:
1. Four mango export shipments to Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur confirmed the viability of Indonesian mango export, with good market response to the Arumanis variety. The project will test technologies in cheaper sea freight shipments planned for the 2011 season. This will include road freight to Surabaya from Lombok using refrigerated container space that returns to Java empty, on cheaper back loading freight rates.
2. Paclobutrazol continues to have a large beneficial impact even in a poor season. This has led the project to increase emphasis on large domestic trade opportunities. In an unusually wet year, paclobutrazol treated trees still produced a crop while untreated trees failed to crop completely. The market price for mangoes in a very low production year was high (4000-5000Rp/kg). Treated trees had the capacity to re-flower three times, after rain at flowering caused flower drop. In wetter areas, paclobutrazol failed to produce a crop as did untreated trees. Earlier flowering was severely impacted by higher than normal rainfall. The varieties Arumanis and Gedong gincu continue to show very strong response to low doses of paclobutrazol.
3. Good post-harvest disease control was achieved using cold dips post-harvest of fludioxonil (Scholar), and azoxystrobin (Amistar). Time of dipping was a significant factor. This is relevant to their use in Australia. Hot water dipping at over 55C (no chemicals) controlled diseases with no significant heat damage on either Arumanis or Gedong gincu. Treatments were assessed at ambient storage (domestic supply chains) and at 15C (export supply chains by sea). At ambient we achieved a life of at least seven days and at 15C, over 14 days.
4. The variety Gedong gincu showed its unique quality attributes in an unusually wet year with excellent skin quality and high disease resistance. However it is highly susceptible to fruit fly. The variety Arumanis had greater quality problems due to wet weather due to poor skin quality and greater disease susceptibility, especially stem end rot fungi (yet to be identified). Arumanis has much greater resistance to fruit fly.
5. Jelly seed disorder was investigated in relation to fruit maturity. Data was also generated on the relationship between ripe brix and dry matter, essential to developing a minimum fruit maturity standard.
6. Successfully tested a latex control system using a local picking pole from mango growers in Cirebon and tested local soaps that reduce latex marks.
7. The first data on the effect of fruit bagging on fruit quality showed a large economic benefit, improving quality and significantly reducing losses due to fruit borers. Trials resolved issues with the right material for fruit bags.
8. Thiamethoxam (Actara) and imidacloprid (Confidor) trials for leafhopper control failed to produce results due to the unusual weather conditions producing poor crops. Similarly the crop loss trial failed to produce results due to poor flowering.
9. A group of farmers visited mango production areas in east Java and Cirebon, Central Java to look at production systems. Project staff also participated in a study tour of research, mango production and mango export in East Java and Cirebon Central Java.
10. An initial assessment was carried out on the losses in the domestic supply chain, tracking a shipment from Lombok to Java. Compression damage (greater than 50%) was a major cause of loss of quality. Mangoes transported in cartons were protected compared to traditional baskets.
11. The unusual weather conditions resulted in total failure of the rambutan crop in Lombok for 2010/2011. Expanded trials using paclobutrazol failed to produce a result. Planned rambutan export trials were not conducted. No rambutan quality assessments were possible. After meeting with Dr Sobir at Institute Pertanian Bogor, rambutans were cinctured which resulted in a significant improvement in flowering off-season. This has applications in Indonesian and Australia.
A major trial combining all pre harvest mango technologies has started for the 2011 season at a number of sites in north Lombok. Logistics planning for a major mango sea freight shipping trial to Singapore and Hong Kong are in progress.
In Australia:
1. Systemic soil applied insecticides (Actara, Confidor) again proved very effective for control of leafhopper, scales and other sucking pests. Control of flatids (planthoppers) was achieved, a significant result. Treated trees had significantly higher yields because of the reduced insect losses. During the 2009 mango season, no residues were found on fruit treated with 6 and 12 g Actara per tree. Further work is in progress on soil and fruit residues. Currently, the cost of Actara has been identified as a significant issue in adoption but there are indications that Syngenta may significantly reduce the price. (25-50%) of Actara.
2. Work on pheromones for mango fruit borer (MFB) and red-banded mango caterpillar (RBMC) has advanced considerably. Candidate pheromone blends have been developed for the first time for mango fruit borer and these will tested in Indonesia this season. It is clear that pheromones for red-banded mango caterpillar are area specific as the pheromone developed for this pest in Australia does not attract the insect in Lombok.
3. Based on previous seasons work, a robust disease control system was demonstrated based on a combination of pre harvest treatments (azoxystrobin - Amistar and mancozeb - Manzate) and post-harvest treatment (prochloraz - Sportak or fludioxonil - Scholar), achieving less than 10 % disease after 18 days storage at 20C. This result was significant given the unusually wet weather at harvest contributing to higher disease pressure.
4. Post-harvest disease control was assessed using fruit from Queensland to test efficacy against stem end rot, which is low prevalence in the NT. It is clear that the current post-harvest chemicals (prochloraz - Sportak or fludioxonil - Scholar) do not control stem end rots prevalent in Queensland. Hot water treatment is essential for control. Interestingly stem end rots in Indonesia (different species) are controlled with these post-harvest chemicals as a cold dip, especially with longer treatment times (e.g. 2-5 mins).
5. A large defect analysis for mangoes in the NT was repeated, sampling at different times in the season, at different locations, from different growers, and the varieties Kensington Pride, R2E2, Honey Gold and Calypso. Lenticel spots, insect damage, sap-burn and wind rub were again the major causes of loss of quality. The causes of some of these defects are poorly understood.
6. Initial work looked at use of potassium nitrate to move flowering earlier. Past work has shown no effect of potassium nitrate on the variety Kensington Pride. These trials confirmed grower experience that two sprays at 2% potassium nitrate over a seven day period, advanced flowering and harvest by four weeks. Urea sprays failed to change flowering date. Earlier flowering has significant quality and market benefits in the NT.
7. A small rambutan trial using three rates of paclobutrazol, + or - potassium nitrate sprays, on two varieties showed a yield response to paclobutrazol. Flowering and harvest were not earlier, and there was no effect of potassium nitrate sprays.
8. In response to industry requests a small trial looked at the effect of elevated CO2 and condensation during storage, at a range of storage temperatures, on the expression of skin browning. There was no effect of elevated CO2 and condensation on skin browning, at any storage temperature.