BioControl (2021) 66, 547-558

Lina Zhao, Yuanjian Wang, Solairaj Dhanasekaran, Zhipeng Guo, Shangjian Chen, Xiaoyun Zhang and Hongyin Zhang (2021)
Efficacy of Wickerhamomyces anomalus yeast in the biocontrol of blue mold decay in apples and investigation of the mechanisms involved
BioControl 66 (4), 547-558
Abstract: Blue mold decay is the one of most important postharvest disease of apples caused by the fungus, Penicillium expansum. This study aimed to investigate the biocontrol efficacy of the yeast, Wickerhamomyces anomalus, on postharvest blue mold decay of apples and the relative defense mechanisms. The results indicated that W. anomalus could significantly reduce the blue mold decay of apples, and the maximum inhibition was obtained when the concentration of W. anomalus was 1 × 10⁸ cells ml^-1. Furthermore, W. anomalus significantly reduced the fruit decay under ambient conditions, without generating any change in fruit quality. In vitro experiments showed that W. anomalus greatly inhibited the spore germination and germ tube elongation of P. expansum. Besides, its ease of adaptation, stable growth and potential colonization of in apple wounds or surfaces indicated that W. anomalus could compete with P. expansum for nutrients and space, leading to considerable inhibition blue mold decay. W. anomalus significantly induced the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) in apples. Moreover, W. anomalus increased the contents of flavonoid and total phenols. All these results suggested that W. anomalus has potential biocontrol efficacy to control the postharvest blue mold decay of apples.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Hongyin Zhang

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
molecular biology - genes

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Penicillium expansum	Apple (Malus)
Wickerhamomyces anomalus (antagonist)	Penicillium expansum	Apple (Malus)