Articles
The biocontrol potential of the yeast Candida oleophila against Penicillium expansum in stored apples
Article number
1451_18
Pages
127 – 132
Language
English
Abstract
Penicillium expansum (PE) is one of the main postharvest pathogens of apples.
It attacks fruits mainly through accidental wounds caused during harvesting operations.
To find alternatives to chemical treatments, the effectiveness of Candida oleophila (CO) against the apple postharvest pathogen was evaluated.
Fruits were injured and inoculated with the pathogen PE at concentration of 106 conidia mL‑1. The positive control was treated with pyrimethanil (PY) and the negative one with water.
Treatments with CO and PY were conducted 24 h before and after the inoculation.
Apples were stored in a cold room at 1.5°C and 90% RH for 60 days.
Disease incidence was assessed weekly on apples and three different categories were used (mild, medium or severe infection). Results showed that disease symptoms on non-injured fruits were very low.
After 35 days, 1.67% disease incidence on CO treatment 24 h before inoculation and 4.67% with 24 h late application was observed.
After 56 days, higher disease symptoms were observed for both untreated and CO treated fruits which were injured and inoculated.
A 95% disease incidence was recorded on fruits injured and treated with CO before inoculation with PE. PY was effective in controlling disease but not at high levels of disease.
Injured fruits sprayed with PY and then PE inoculated showed 21.67% disease incidence, whereas it was 26.7% on fruits injured, inoculated, and then treated with PI. Results showed that with a high PE inoculum, the efficacy of CO used in postharvest treatment was very low and could not be used to effectively control blue mould of apple.
It attacks fruits mainly through accidental wounds caused during harvesting operations.
To find alternatives to chemical treatments, the effectiveness of Candida oleophila (CO) against the apple postharvest pathogen was evaluated.
Fruits were injured and inoculated with the pathogen PE at concentration of 106 conidia mL‑1. The positive control was treated with pyrimethanil (PY) and the negative one with water.
Treatments with CO and PY were conducted 24 h before and after the inoculation.
Apples were stored in a cold room at 1.5°C and 90% RH for 60 days.
Disease incidence was assessed weekly on apples and three different categories were used (mild, medium or severe infection). Results showed that disease symptoms on non-injured fruits were very low.
After 35 days, 1.67% disease incidence on CO treatment 24 h before inoculation and 4.67% with 24 h late application was observed.
After 56 days, higher disease symptoms were observed for both untreated and CO treated fruits which were injured and inoculated.
A 95% disease incidence was recorded on fruits injured and treated with CO before inoculation with PE. PY was effective in controlling disease but not at high levels of disease.
Injured fruits sprayed with PY and then PE inoculated showed 21.67% disease incidence, whereas it was 26.7% on fruits injured, inoculated, and then treated with PI. Results showed that with a high PE inoculum, the efficacy of CO used in postharvest treatment was very low and could not be used to effectively control blue mould of apple.
Authors
F. Zeni, L. Turrini, A. Pedergnana, M. Valentini, S. Girardi, D. Spadaro, D. Angeli
Keywords
Candida oleophila, Penicillium expansum, apple, storage, postharvest
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