HIGH-CO₂ FOR THE CONTROL OF BOTRYTIS CINEREA ROT DURING LONG TERM STORAGE OF RED CHICORY

The effects of CO₂-enriched atmospheres on the infections of Botrytis cinerea in red chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. silvestre Bischoff) cv. ‘Radicchio rosso di Chioggia’ were studied during storage at 0°C up to 150 days. B cinerea growth, conidial germination and sclerotial production were evaluated also in vitro.
Mycelial growth on PDA decreased linearly as CO₂ concentrations increased from 5, 10, 15 and 20%. A reduced production of sclerotia in air, by the colonies formerly exposed to various CO₂ concentrations, was also detected.
Conidial germination and germ tube elongation was delayed with increased CO₂ and inhibited at 20% CO₂. In artificially inoculated heads, lesion area caused by B. cinerea decreased with increasing concentrations of CO₂ up to 60 days of storage; later only 10 and 15% CO₂ were really effective, while after 120 days all the concentration tested showed a low efficacy.
In naturally infected heads the effect of 5 and 10% CO₂ was remarkable even after 150 days of storage as it was prevented not only the growth of B. cinerea in each single head but also the disease spread to adjacent plant (nesting), thus reducing the overall losses.
Phytotoxic effects combined with a higher vulnerability to rots were detected in heads kept at 15% CO₂ for 150 days.

V International Postharvest Symposium

P. Bertolini, E. Baraldi, M. Mari, I. Donati, R. Lazzarin

Cichorium intybus, storage rot, radicchio, low temperature, controlled atmosphere

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.682.274