Plant Disease (2003) 87, 1384-1389

Ozgur Akgun Karabulut, Joseph L. Smilanick, Franka Mlikota Gabler, Monir Mansour and Samir Droby (2003)
Near-harvest applications of Metschnikowia fructicola, ethanol, and sodium bicarbonate to control postharvest diseases of grape in central California
Plant Disease 87 (11), 1384-1389
Abstract: The yeast Metschnikowia fructicola, ethanol, and sodium bicarbonate (SBC), alone or in combinations, were applied to table grapes on vines 24 h before harvest to control the incidence of postharvest diseases. In four experiments, all significantly reduced the total number of decayed berries caused by Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria spp., or Aspergillus niger after storage for 30 days at 1°C followed by 2 days at 20°C. In three experiments, a mean gray mold incidence (caused by B. cinerea) of 34.2 infected berries per kilogram among untreated grape was reduced by Metschnikowia fructicola at 2 × 10(^7) CFU/ml, ethanol at 50% (vol/vol), or SBC at 2% (wt/vol) to 12.9, 8.1, or 10.6 infected berries per kilogram, respectively. Ethanol, SBC, and SO(2) generator pads were similarly effective. M. fructicola effectiveness was not improved when combined with ethanol or SBC treatments. Ethanol and yeast treatments did not harm the appearance of the grapes. M. fructicola and SBC left noticeable residues, and SBC caused some visible phytotoxicity to the rachis and berries. Ethanol applied at 50% (vol/vol) reduced epiphytic fungal and bacterial populations by about 50% compared with controls. M. fructicola populations persisted on berries during storage when applied alone or after ethanol treatments, whereas SBC reduced its population significantly.
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Database assignments for author(s): Ozgur Akgun Karabulut, Joseph L. Smilanick, Franka Mlikota Gabler

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
evaluation - screening - selection

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Botrytis cinerea	Grapevine (Vitis)
	Aspergillus niger	Stored fruits/vegetables
Metschnikowia fructicola (antagonist)	Botrytis cinerea	Grapevine (Vitis)