Articles
Impact of pre- and postharvest management practices on decay diversity and frequency of pear in the U.S. Pacific Northwest
Article number
1403_27
Pages
211 – 216
Language
English
Abstract
Pears are grown intensively in the U.S. Pacific Northwest states, i.e., Washington (WA) and Oregon (OR), which combined provide up to 75% of pears grown in the country.
After harvest, pears are stored for up to 6 and 9 months in regular and controlled atmosphere cold storage, respectively.
During this long storage period, several fungal decays can be a limiting factor for fruit quality and storability.
In addition to micro-climates characterizing different growing regions of the PNW, pre- and postharvest practices may differ between growers and packers across regions.
The impact of such conditions on postharvest decay development and management, at regional level, is unknown.
Therefore, statewide postharvest decay surveys were conducted from 2017 to 2018 in WA and OR. Decayed pears were collected from 120 grower lots (50 fruit per lot) distributed throughout 10 counties in central WA and Hood River, northern OR, from February to June of 2017 and 2018. Symptomatic pears were used to culture fungal isolates from each fruit on Petri plates containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with antibiotics to avoid bacterial contaminations.
Isolates were purified and identified using key morphological traits and ITS markers when needed.
Pre- and postharvest spray records were obtained from participating packers.
Fungal species from nine major genera, i.e., Botrytis, Penicillium, Phacidiopycnis, Alternaria, Mucor, Cladosporium, Neofabraea, Neonectria, and Fusarium, in addition to other minor fungal species and unidentified species, were identified in the U.S. PNW pear warehouses. Botrytis and Penicillium were the two most predominant pathogens found in both states at different frequencies.
In addition to Mucor spp., long known to be major pear postharvest pathogens, other fungal pathogens such as Phacidiopycnis, Neonectria and Fusarium spp. are emerging as additional postharvest pathogens of pears with potential impact on fruit export from the PNW due to the quarantine nature of some of these species.
Impact of pre- and postharvest sprays are analyzed and discussed to enhance future decay management approaches.
After harvest, pears are stored for up to 6 and 9 months in regular and controlled atmosphere cold storage, respectively.
During this long storage period, several fungal decays can be a limiting factor for fruit quality and storability.
In addition to micro-climates characterizing different growing regions of the PNW, pre- and postharvest practices may differ between growers and packers across regions.
The impact of such conditions on postharvest decay development and management, at regional level, is unknown.
Therefore, statewide postharvest decay surveys were conducted from 2017 to 2018 in WA and OR. Decayed pears were collected from 120 grower lots (50 fruit per lot) distributed throughout 10 counties in central WA and Hood River, northern OR, from February to June of 2017 and 2018. Symptomatic pears were used to culture fungal isolates from each fruit on Petri plates containing potato dextrose agar (PDA) amended with antibiotics to avoid bacterial contaminations.
Isolates were purified and identified using key morphological traits and ITS markers when needed.
Pre- and postharvest spray records were obtained from participating packers.
Fungal species from nine major genera, i.e., Botrytis, Penicillium, Phacidiopycnis, Alternaria, Mucor, Cladosporium, Neofabraea, Neonectria, and Fusarium, in addition to other minor fungal species and unidentified species, were identified in the U.S. PNW pear warehouses. Botrytis and Penicillium were the two most predominant pathogens found in both states at different frequencies.
In addition to Mucor spp., long known to be major pear postharvest pathogens, other fungal pathogens such as Phacidiopycnis, Neonectria and Fusarium spp. are emerging as additional postharvest pathogens of pears with potential impact on fruit export from the PNW due to the quarantine nature of some of these species.
Impact of pre- and postharvest sprays are analyzed and discussed to enhance future decay management approaches.
Publication
Authors
A. Amiri, J. Fomba
Keywords
Pyrus communis, preharvest, postharvest, decay, chemical control, pear cultivars
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