Journal of Plant Pathology (2003) 85, 300-301
F. Vinale, S. Woo, K. Abadi, M. Ruocco, D. Scognamiglio, F. Scala, A. Zoina and M. Lorito (2003)
Biological control of major postharvest pathogens on cv. Annurca apples with Trichoderma spp. and Sepedonium chrysospermum
Journal of Plant Pathology 85 (4), 300-301
X Meeting, Italian Society for Plant Pathology (poster)
Abstract: Postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables experiences serious economic losses worldwide, even when fungicide treatments are applied. Development of resistance to chemicals by major postharvest pathogens, and concerns for public safety have supported the expanding interest in biological control methods of fruit decay, for example, by using microbial antagonists. The objective of this study was to investigate the biocontrol potential on cv. Annurca apples of Trichoderma spp. and Sepedonium chrysospermum against Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea and Alternaria alternata, three of the major postharvest pathogens of this commodity typical to the Campania Region. Trichoderma (strains P1 and T22) and S. chrysospermum (strain 704) showed a strong biocontrol effect during in vitro tests performed against P. expansum, B. cinerea and A. alternata. They inhibited both spore germination and germtube elongation of the pathogens by the simple application of crude culture filtrates from the antagonist. In vivo bioassays, using antagonist propagules (P1, T22, 704) inhibited rot development for at least 10 days. In order to understand the role of specific metabolites in this plant-antagonist interaction, culture filtrates were analysed biochemically and mutants with known up- and down-regulated genes possibly involved in post-harvest biocontrol were tested in comparison with wild types.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Sheridan L. Woo, Francesco Vinale, Michelina Ruocco, Felice Scala
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection
