METSCHNIKOWIA ANDAUENSIS: A NOVEL BIOCONTROL AGENT OF FRUIT POSTHARVEST DISEASES

A new yeast antagonist, Metschnikowia andauensis PBC-2, isolated from apple fruit, was evaluated for its biological control activity against the most important postharvest pathogens of pome and citrus fruit.
This yeast at 10⁷ cfu ml^-1 was very effective in reducing blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum on different cultivars of apples and in ‘Rocha’ pear, and against P. digitatum and P. italicum on citrus fruit.
High control of B. cinerea, P. expansum and R. stolonifer was obtained with the application of M. andauensis PBC-2 on ‘Golden Delicious’ apple.
Over more than four years of experiments in semi-commercial trials M. andauensis PBC-2 provided excellent control against P. expansum under cold storage.
The mechanisms of action, as antibiosis, production of chitinolytic enzymes and iron competition were studied.
Results showed that none of these mechanisms were responsible for the antagonistic ability of M. andauensis. Research is now in progress to examine different media, in order to optimize large-scale production.

International Symposium on Biological Control of Postharvest Diseases: Challenges and Opportunities

T. Manso, C. Nunes

Botrytis cinerea, citrus fruit, mechanism of action, Penicillium expansum, pome fruit, Rhizopus stolonifer

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.905.28