Improved control of postharvest blue mold rot in pear fruit by a combination of Cryptococcus laurentii and gibberellic acid

The most effective nutritional, fungicidal, and biological control treatments previously evaluated for control of postharvest decay in pear were evaluated for 3 years as factorial treatments to determine the best combinations for an integrated program. Calcium chloride sprays during the growing season reduced incidence of side rot in each year and of blue mold in 1 year, while ziram was effective against side rot in 1 year and blue mold in 2 years. Ziram, but not calcium chloride, provided control of gray mold and bull's-eye rot. Application of the yeast Cryptococcus infirmominiatus to pear fruit 1 week before harvest at a concentration of 1.0 to 1.5 × 108 CFU/ml resulted in establishment of large populations of yeast on fruit surfaces, but did not reduce postharvest fungal decay incidence in 3 years of testing. In 1 year, ziram sprays applied 2 weeks before harvest significantly reduced yeast populations on fruit subsequently treated with C. infirmo-miniatus. Sequential treatments with calcium chloride and ziram are indicated in an integrated program to take advantage of their differential effectiveness to broaden the range of control of pear postharvest decay pathogens.

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Indole-3-Acetic Acid Improves Postharvest Biological Control of Blue Mold Rot of Apple by Cryptococcus laurentii

Phytopathology ◽

10.1094/phyto-99-3-0258 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 99 (3) ◽

pp. 258-264 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Ting Yu ◽

Jishuang Chen ◽

Huangping Lu ◽

Xiaodong Zheng

Keyword(s):

Acetic Acid ◽

Apple Fruit ◽

Natural Resistance ◽

Penicillium Expansum ◽

Cryptococcus Laurentii ◽

Blue Mold ◽

Biocontrol Efficacy ◽

Indole 3 Acetic Acid

Cryptococcus laurentii is a well-known postharvest biocontrol yeast; however, it cannot provide satisfactory levels of decay control when used alone. Here, we evaluated the effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a plant growth regulator, on the biocontrol efficacy of the yeast antagonist C. laurentii against blue mold rot caused by Penicillium expansum in apple fruit. Results showed that the addition of IAA at 20 μg/ml to suspensions of C. laurentii greatly enhanced inhibition of mold rot in apple wounds compared with that observed with C. laurentii alone. The addition of IAA at 20 μg/ml or lower did not influence the population growth of C. laurentii in wounds, but adverse effects were seen on C. laurentii when the concentration of IAA was increased to 200 μg/ml or above in vitro and in vivo. P. expansum infection in apple wounds was not inhibited when the pathogen was inoculated into the fruit wounds within 2 h after application of IAA; however, infection was reduced when inoculated more than 12 h after IAA application. Treatment of wounds with IAA at 20 μg/ml 24 h before pathogen inoculation resulted in significant inhibition of P. expansum spore germination and host infection. Application of IAA at 20 μg/ml also reduced P. expansum infection when it was applied 48 h before pathogen inoculation in the intact fruit. Thus, IAA could reinforce the biocontrol efficacy of C. laurentii in inhibiting blue mold of apple fruit by induction of the natural resistance of the fruit.

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Biological control of postharvest blue mold of oranges by Cryptococcus laurentii (Kufferath) Skinner

BioControl ◽

10.1007/s10526-004-0452-x ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 50 (2) ◽

pp. 331-342 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Hong-yin ZHANG ◽

Xiao-dong ZHENG ◽

Yu-fang XI

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Cryptococcus Laurentii ◽

Blue Mold

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Prevalence and Incidence of Phacidiopycnis Rot in d'Anjou Pears in Washington State

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2004.88.4.413 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 88 (4) ◽

pp. 413-418 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

C. L. Xiao ◽

R. J. Boal

Keyword(s):

The United States ◽

Gray Mold ◽

Washington State ◽

Postharvest Disease ◽

Wound Infections ◽

Postharvest Diseases ◽

Pear Fruit ◽

Blue Mold ◽

Penicillium Spp ◽

Organic Orchards

Phacidiopycnis rot, caused by Phacidiopycnis piri, is a newly recognized postharvest disease in pear fruit (Pyrus communis cv. d'Anjou) in the United States. To determine the prevalence and incidence of this disease, decayed fruit were sampled during packing and repacking operations from four packinghouses in 2001 and 2002. During March to May (repacking) in 2001, Phacidiopycnis rot was found in packed fruit that were stored in cardboard boxes from 22 of 26 grower lots (orchards), and accounted for 5 to 71% of the total decay. Phacidiopycnis rot, gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea, and blue mold caused by Penicillium spp. accounted for an average of 34.1, 10.3, and 33.6% of decayed fruit from conventional orchards, respectively; and 22.8, 35.7, and 23.5% of decayed fruit from organic orchards, respectively. During November 2001 to January 2002 (packing), Phacidiopycnis rot was observed in fruit that were stored in field bins before packing from 30 of 33 grower lots, accounting for 18.4% of decayed fruit sampled. During March to May in 2002, Phacidiopycnis rot was responsible for 2 to 68% of decayed fruit sampled from 36 of 39 grower lots. Phacidiopycnis rot, gray mold, and blue mold accounted for an average of 19.6, 26.8, and 37.4% of decayed fruit from conventional orchards, respectively; and 42.2, 25.7, and 8.2% of decayed fruit from organic orchards, respectively. Most Phacidiopycnis rot that occurred in field bins before packing appeared to originate from wound infections; whereas after packing, approximately 60 and 30% of Phacidiopycnis rot originated from stem and calyx infections, respectively. This study indicates that Phacidiopycnis rot should be considered one of the targets for control of postharvest diseases in d'Anjou pears in the region.

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Characterization of Penicillium Isolates Associated with Blue Mold on Apple in Uruguay

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2004.88.1.23 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 88 (1) ◽

pp. 23-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

M. J. Pianzzola ◽

M. Moscatelli ◽

S. Vero

Keyword(s):

Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽

Random Amplified Polymorphic Dna ◽

Species Level ◽

Penicillium Expansum ◽

Postharvest Disease ◽

Pear Fruit ◽

Blue Mold ◽

Penicillium Spp ◽

Its1 And Its2

Blue mold caused by Penicillium spp. is the most important postharvest disease of apple in Uruguay. Fourteen isolates of Penicillium were recovered from rotten apple and pear fruit with blue mold symptoms, and from water from flotation tanks in commercial apple juice facilities. Phenotypic identification to species level was performed, and the isolates were tested for sensitivity to commonly used postharvest fungicides. Genetic characterization of the isolates was performed with restriction fragment length polymorphism of the region including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ITS1 and ITS2 and the 5.8SrRNA gene (ITS1-5.8SrRNA gene-ITS2) ribosomal DNA region and with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers. Both techniques were able to differentiate these isolates at the species level. RAPD analysis proved to be an objective, rapid, and reliable tool to identify Penicillium spp. involved in blue mold of apple. In all, 11 isolates were identified as Penicillium expansum and 3 as P. solitum. This is the first report of P. solitum as an apple pathogen in Uruguay.

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Control of Postharvest Decay in Pear by Four Laboratory-Grown Yeasts and Two Registered Biocontrol Products

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.1999.83.2.155 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 155-158 ◽

Cited By ~ 55

Author(s):

David Sugar ◽

Robert A. Spotts

Keyword(s):

Pseudomonas Syringae ◽

Rhodotorula Glutinis ◽

Penicillium Expansum ◽

First Year ◽

Cryptococcus Laurentii ◽

Blue Mold ◽

Lesion Diameter ◽

Candida Oleophila ◽

Resistant Strains ◽

Second Year

Control of blue mold decay in Bosc pears was studied with the laboratory-grown yeasts Rhodotorula glutinis, Cryptococcus infirmo-miniatus, and two strains of Cryptococcus laurentii, as well as registered biocontrol products Aspire, containing the yeast Candida oleophila, and Bio-Save 11 (now Bio-Save 110), containing the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae. Both thiabendazole (TBZ)-sensitive and TBZ-resistant strains of Penicillium expansum were used. Aspire treatment reduced the average lesion diameter by approximately 65 and 45%, and reduced decay incidence by 27 and 9% with TBZ-resistant and TBZ-sensitive P. expansum, respectively, in the first year of the study, but did not result in significant decay control in the second year. Bio-Save 11 reduced decay lesion diameter by 32 to 72% and incidence by 21 to 40% over the 2 years. In both years, TBZ-sensitive P. expansum was completely controlled by the combination of either C. laurentii (both strains), R. glutinis, or C. infirmo-miniatus with 100 ppm TBZ. With TBZ-resistant P. expansum, control of wound infection with these yeasts alone or with 100 ppm TBZ ranged from 62.9 to 100%. In a packinghouse trial, control by Bio-Save 110 + 100 ppm TBZ and Aspire + 100 ppm TBZ was not different than control by TBZ at 569 ppm, the maximum label rate. The amount of decay following Aspire + 100 ppm TBZ treatment was significantly less than the amount of decay following Bio-Save 110 + 100 ppm TBZ treatment.

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