Plant Pathology (2005) 54, 74-81

A. Amiri and G. Bompeix (2005)
Diversity and population dynamics of Penicillium spp. on apples in pre- and postharvest environments: consequences for decay development
Plant Pathology 54 (1), 74-81
Abstract: Isolates of Penicillium spp. were collected regularly from 2001 to 2003 from the surfaces of apple fruit pre- and postharvest, and from the atmosphere of orchards and storage rooms in France. Penicillium spp. were not detected from the atmosphere of conventional orchards, while their density did not exceed 50 spores m^-3 in the atmosphere of organically managed orchards. Penicillium spp. were seldom detected on apple surfaces in the orchard. The density of Penicillium on apples increased from 10 to 50 spores cm^-2 after 1 month in storage to 300-400 spores cm^-2 after 6 months. The level of airborne Penicillium increased by up to 2 x 10⁴ and 2.5 x 10³ spores m^-3 within nondisinfected and previously disinfected warehouses, respectively. Penicillium expansum (30-62%) and P. solitum (6-45%) were the most prevalent species on apple or in storage rooms. Other species of Penicillium isolated included P. commune, P. verrucosum, P. chrysogenum, P. rugulosum and P. digitatum. Apple fruit were also surveyed for wounds and the number of open lenticels using the sulphur dioxide test. The incidence of wounding at harvest varied from 12 to 36%, depending on cultivar and locality. When apples were inoculated at harvest by either aqueous or aerial inoculum of P. expansum, the decay incidence was constantly higher than the incidence of wounding. The number of open lenticels per cm² of apple surface varied from 0·5 on cv. Boskoop to 4·4 on cv. Golden Delicious. An average of 13 and 2·1% of lenticels, respectively, were infected when they were inoculated by P. expansum and P. verrucosum. Cultivars of apple fruit that showed a greater number of open lenticels, combined with a large diameter varying from 100 to 200 µm, were more susceptible to P. expansum.
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Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Penicillium digitatum	Stored fruits/vegetables	France
	Penicillium expansum	Stored fruits/vegetables	France
	Penicillium verrucosum	Stored fruits/vegetables	France
	Penicillium chrysogenum	Stored fruits/vegetables	France
	Penicillium solitum	Stored fruits/vegetables	France