Application of microbial antagonists in combination with sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest diseases of sweet cherries

Postharvest diseases cause considerable losses in fruits and vegetables during transportation and storage.
Synthetic fungicides are the primary mean to control postharvest diseases.
However, biological control has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to chemical fungicides.
Several postharvest diseases can now be controlled by microbial antagonists.
The aim of this work was to study the antagonistic action of four yeasts and two bacteria in combination with sodium bicarbonate (SB, NaHCO₃). The combination of microbial antagonists and SB were capable of reducing the percentage of infected wounds.
In contrast, in stand-alone treatments, cherries treated either with microbial antagonists or with SB, the percentage of infected wounds was very high.
Three antagonistic yeasts, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Cryptococcus laurentii and Pichia guillermondii, in combination with SB, were effective against several of the main postharvest pathogens (M. laxa, A. niger and B. cinerea) on sweet cherries at 25°C. Thus, the combination of microbial antagonists and SB could be an alternative to chemicals for the control of postharvest rot on cherries.

VII International Cherry Symposium

J. Delgado-Adámez, G. Fuentes-Pérez, B. Velardo-Micharet, D. González-Gómez

microbial antagonists, sodium bicarbonate, biological control, postharvest rots, sweet cherries

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1161.84