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G S Karaoglanidis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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identification and differentiation of Monilinia species causing brown rot of pome and stone fruit using high resolution melting hrm analysis
Phytopathology, 2016Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Madesis, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruit caused by Monilinia spp. Among these species, Monilinia fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in Europe but has recently been detected in several European countries. Identification of brown rot agents relies on morphological differences or use of molecular methods requiring fungal isolation. The current study was initiated to develop and validate a high-resolution melting (HRM) method for the identification of the Monilinia spp. and for the detection of M. fructicola among other brown rot pathogens. Based on the sequence of the cytb intron from M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. mumecola, M. linhartiana, and M. yunnanensis isolates originating from several countries, a pair of universal primers for species identification and a pair of primers specific to M. fructicola were designed. The specificity of the primers was verified to ensure against cross-reaction with other fungal species. The melting curve analysis using the universal primers generated si...
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identification and differentiation of Monilinia species causing brown rot of pome and stone fruit using high resolution melting hrm analysis
Phytopathology, 2016Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Madesis, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruit caused by Monilinia spp. Among these species, Monilinia fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in Europe but has recently been detected in several European countries. Identification of brown rot agents relies on morphological differences or use of molecular methods requiring fungal isolation. The current study was initiated to develop and validate a high-resolution melting (HRM) method for the identification of the Monilinia spp. and for the detection of M. fructicola among other brown rot pathogens. Based on the sequence of the cytb intron from M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. mumecola, M. linhartiana, and M. yunnanensis isolates originating from several countries, a pair of universal primers for species identification and a pair of primers specific to M. fructicola were designed. The specificity of the primers was verified to ensure against cross-reaction with other fungal species. The melting curve analysis using the universal primers generated six different HRM curve profiles, each one specific for each species. Τhe HRM analysis primers specific to M. fructicola amplified a 120-bp region with a distinct melt profile corresponding to the presence of M. fructicola, regardless of the presence of other species. HRM analysis can be a useful tool for rapid identification and differentiation of the six Monilinia spp. using a single primer pair. This novel assay has the potential for simultaneous identification and differentiation of the closely related Monilinia spp. as well as for the differentiation of M. fructicola from other common pathogens or saprophytes that may occur on the diseased fruit.
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frequency of brown rot fungi on blossoms and fruit in stone fruit orchards in greece
Plant Pathology, 2015Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Stefanos Testempasis, Themis J Michailides, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruits caused by Monilinia spp. This study was conducted to investigate the disease aetiology on blossoms and fruit in peach, apricot, sweet cherry and plum orchards, in Greece. In total, 1433 isolates obtained from orchards located in the main stone fruit production regions of Greece were identified to species based on the presence/size of a cyt b intron. Monilinia laxa and M. fructicola were detected at frequencies of 59 and 41%, respectively, while M. fructigena was absent. Monilinia fructicola was more common on fruit whereas M. laxa occurred in similar frequency on blossoms and fruit. Monilinia laxa was replaced by M. fructicola in fruit infections of peach in both regions investigated and in fruit infections of plum in the Imathia region. Assessments of aggressiveness of 30 isolates of both species on the petals and fruits of the hosts showed that M. fructicola isolates were more aggressive. This suggests that the predominance of M. laxa on the blossoms cannot be explained by higher aggressiveness. Measurements of the effect of temperature on mycelial growth showed that M. laxa isolates had a higher growth rate than M. fructicola at the lowest temperature tested of 5°C, whereas M. fructicola isolates showed higher growth rates at higher temperatures. The observed high frequency of M. fructicola in Greece represents a major threat for stone fruit production. Furthermore, the information obtained about delineation of species and plant organ preference could be useful for the implementation of disease management strategies.
Antonios Papavasileiou - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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identification and differentiation of Monilinia species causing brown rot of pome and stone fruit using high resolution melting hrm analysis
Phytopathology, 2016Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Madesis, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruit caused by Monilinia spp. Among these species, Monilinia fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in Europe but has recently been detected in several European countries. Identification of brown rot agents relies on morphological differences or use of molecular methods requiring fungal isolation. The current study was initiated to develop and validate a high-resolution melting (HRM) method for the identification of the Monilinia spp. and for the detection of M. fructicola among other brown rot pathogens. Based on the sequence of the cytb intron from M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. mumecola, M. linhartiana, and M. yunnanensis isolates originating from several countries, a pair of universal primers for species identification and a pair of primers specific to M. fructicola were designed. The specificity of the primers was verified to ensure against cross-reaction with other fungal species. The melting curve analysis using the universal primers generated si...
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identification and differentiation of Monilinia species causing brown rot of pome and stone fruit using high resolution melting hrm analysis
Phytopathology, 2016Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Madesis, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruit caused by Monilinia spp. Among these species, Monilinia fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in Europe but has recently been detected in several European countries. Identification of brown rot agents relies on morphological differences or use of molecular methods requiring fungal isolation. The current study was initiated to develop and validate a high-resolution melting (HRM) method for the identification of the Monilinia spp. and for the detection of M. fructicola among other brown rot pathogens. Based on the sequence of the cytb intron from M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. mumecola, M. linhartiana, and M. yunnanensis isolates originating from several countries, a pair of universal primers for species identification and a pair of primers specific to M. fructicola were designed. The specificity of the primers was verified to ensure against cross-reaction with other fungal species. The melting curve analysis using the universal primers generated six different HRM curve profiles, each one specific for each species. Τhe HRM analysis primers specific to M. fructicola amplified a 120-bp region with a distinct melt profile corresponding to the presence of M. fructicola, regardless of the presence of other species. HRM analysis can be a useful tool for rapid identification and differentiation of the six Monilinia spp. using a single primer pair. This novel assay has the potential for simultaneous identification and differentiation of the closely related Monilinia spp. as well as for the differentiation of M. fructicola from other common pathogens or saprophytes that may occur on the diseased fruit.
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frequency of brown rot fungi on blossoms and fruit in stone fruit orchards in greece
Plant Pathology, 2015Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Stefanos Testempasis, Themis J Michailides, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruits caused by Monilinia spp. This study was conducted to investigate the disease aetiology on blossoms and fruit in peach, apricot, sweet cherry and plum orchards, in Greece. In total, 1433 isolates obtained from orchards located in the main stone fruit production regions of Greece were identified to species based on the presence/size of a cyt b intron. Monilinia laxa and M. fructicola were detected at frequencies of 59 and 41%, respectively, while M. fructigena was absent. Monilinia fructicola was more common on fruit whereas M. laxa occurred in similar frequency on blossoms and fruit. Monilinia laxa was replaced by M. fructicola in fruit infections of peach in both regions investigated and in fruit infections of plum in the Imathia region. Assessments of aggressiveness of 30 isolates of both species on the petals and fruits of the hosts showed that M. fructicola isolates were more aggressive. This suggests that the predominance of M. laxa on the blossoms cannot be explained by higher aggressiveness. Measurements of the effect of temperature on mycelial growth showed that M. laxa isolates had a higher growth rate than M. fructicola at the lowest temperature tested of 5°C, whereas M. fructicola isolates showed higher growth rates at higher temperatures. The observed high frequency of M. fructicola in Greece represents a major threat for stone fruit production. Furthermore, the information obtained about delineation of species and plant organ preference could be useful for the implementation of disease management strategies.
C. Casals - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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biological control of brown rot in stone fruit using bacillus amyloliquefaciens cpa 8 under field conditions
Crop Protection, 2017Co-Authors: A Gotorvila, C. Casals, R Torres, A. De Cal, N Teixido, Belen GuijarroAbstract:Different treatments based on the biocontrol agent (BCA) Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 to control brown rot under field conditions were evaluated as alternative to chemical applications. As part of a well-designed disease program that enables the integration of BCAs into cropping systems, testing of the sensitivity of Monilinia laxa and Monilinia fructicola at different doses of CPA-8 were conducted in stone fruit under laboratory conditions. CPA-8 dose of 107 CFU mL−1 reduced more than 60.0 and 75.5% of brown rot incidence and severity, respectively. Once in the orchard, different degree of biocontrol activity was obtained depending on the inoculum pressure, which was mainly associated with meteorological conditions. Under drastic disease pressure, neither CPA-8 treatment nor the chemicals controlled the disease at harvest and only the chemical treatment reduced postharvest brown rot incidence. However, when Monilinia spp. incidence was close to the standard levels recorded in the area, treatments based on CPA-8 formulations proved to be efficacious. At harvest, BA3, BA4 treatments (CPA-8 optimised products) and PF + BA3 treatment (Penicillium frequentans combined with CPA- 8) reduced Monilinia spp. incidence compared to the control (54.7–64.1%) and similar to the chemicals. At postharvest, almost all CPA-8-based treatments (except PF + BA3) controlled the pathogen with BA4 treatment being as much effective as the chemicals (50.3% of disease reduction). Finally, the population dynamics of CPA-8 on treated fruit surface remained after treatment application, at harvest and at postharvest shelf-life (>104 CFU cm−2). This study highlights the potential of B. amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 as alternative or complementary strategies to control Monilinia spp.
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influence of temperature on decay mycelium development and sporodochia production caused by Monilinia fructicola and m laxa on stone fruits
Food Microbiology, 2017Co-Authors: M Bernat, J Segarra, C. CasalsAbstract:Brown rot on peaches and nectarines caused by Monilinia spp. results in significant economic losses in Europe. Experiments were conducted to study the effects of temperature (0–33 °C) on the temporal dynamics of decay and mycelium development and the subsequent sporulation on peaches and nectarine fruit infected by M. laxa and M. fructicola. The rates of decay and mycelium development increased with temperature from 0 °C to 25 °C for both Monilinia species. At 0 °C, decay was faster for M. laxa (0.20 cm2 days−1) than for M. fructicola (0.07 cm2 days−1); indeed, M. laxa was able to develop mycelia and sporodochia, but M. fructicola was not. At 4 and 20 °C, there were no differences in decay and mycelia development between the two Monilinia species. When temperature increased from 25 to 33 °C, the rates of fungal decay and mycelium development decreased. At 30 and 33 °C, M. fructicola decayed faster (0.94 and 1.2 cm2 days−1, respectively) than M. laxa (0.78 and 0.74 cm2 days−1, respectively) and could develop mycelia and produce sporodochia, whereas M. laxa failed at 33 °C. These results indicated that M. fructicola is better adapted to high temperatures, whereas M. laxa is better adapted to low temperatures. These results can be used to predict the relative importance of the two species during the season at a given site and to improve management strategies for brown rot in areas where both species are present.
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Combination of peracetic acid and hot water treatment to control postharvest brown rot on peaches and nectarines
Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2013Co-Authors: M. Sisquella, Immaculada Viñas, C. Casals, Neus TeixidóAbstract:Abstract Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. is the most important postharvest disease of stone fruit. From preliminary studies, the combination of 0.25% hydrogen peroxide, 0.02% peracetic acid (PAA) and 0.075% acetic acid, corresponding to 300 mg L−1 of PAA, was selected to control Monilinia fructicola. Brown rot control was similarly controlled when the same concentration of PAA was applied with a PAA-based commercial product. In order to reduce PAA concentration, combinations of different concentrations and temperatures were evaluated. A treatment of 200 mg L−1 of PAA at 40 °C for 40 s was selected to control pre-existing and future infections, different inoculum concentrations of M. fructicola and to control brown rot on naturally infected fruit. Brown rot was completely controlled with the selected treatment when peaches and nectarines were inoculated 0 h before the treatment but it was not controlled when infection time was increased to 24, 48 and 72 h. Also, the treatment significantly controlled brown rot at all inoculum concentrations evaluated (103, 104, 105 and 106 conidia mL−1) in both peaches and nectarines, but no protection against future infections was observed. In naturally infected fruit, brown rot incidence was slightly but significantly reduced to 61 and 36% in ‘Roig d’Albesa’ and ‘Placido’ peaches, respectively, but not in nectarines. Immersion for 40 s in 200 mg L−1 of PAA at 40 °C provides an alternative treatment to control only recent infections of Monilinia spp. whatever their concentration without generally affecting fruit quality.
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control of Monilinia spp on stone fruit by curing treatments part i the effect of temperature exposure time and relative humidity on curing efficacy
Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2010Co-Authors: C. Casals, N Teixido, S LlauradoAbstract:Abstract Monilinia spp. are the most important cause of brown rot on peaches and nectarines. In many countries, no postharvest chemical treatments of stone fruit are allowed and alternative postharvest treatments are urgently required. The effect of curing treatments at different temperatures, exposure times and relative humidity (RH) to control brown rot was studied. Three curing temperatures were tested (40, 45 and 50 °C) at different exposure times (ranging from 30 min to 6 h). Curing at 50 °C for 2 h successfully increased brown rot control (95%) after fruit were incubated at 20 °C and 85% RH for 5 d after treatment. Longer exposure time was required to achieve the same level of brown rot control at lower curing temperatures. Four relative humidity (RH) levels (60%, 80%, 90% and 99%) were also tested during curing at 50 °C for 1, 2, 3 and 4 h. Brown rot control at 99% or 90% RH for 3 or 4 h were the same, achieving control at higher than 95%. At lower RH levels (60% and 80%), more exposure time was required to achieve the same control as at the highest RH (90% and 99%). Complete control of disease development was achieved when four varieties of peach and nectarine fruit artificially inoculated with either Monilinia laxa or Monilinia fructicola were cured at 50 °C for 2 h and 95–99% RH. Curing at 50 °C for 2 h and 95–99% RH had a positive effect on fruit quality, with significantly (P
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Application of radio frequency heating to control brown rot on peaches and nectarines.
Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2010Co-Authors: C. Casals, Immaculada Viñas, A. Landl, P. Picouet, Rosario TorresAbstract:Abstract Brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. is a serious postharvest disease affecting stonefruit. Currently, no chemical fungicide is allowed to be applied to stonefruit postharvest in Spain, which creates the need to develop effective postharvest treatments. This is the first report using radiofrequency (RF) heating to control brown rot in peaches and nectarines artificially inoculated with Monilinia fructicola or with natural Monilinia spp. inoculum. From preliminary studies, a RF treatment at 27.12 MHz, with 17 mm distance between fruit and upper electrode and 18 min exposure time was selected as effective conditions to control brown rot in peaches without affecting fruit quality. This RF treatment was investigated to control M. fructicola inoculated 0, 24 and 48 h before RF treatment and using inoculum concentrations of 10 3 , 10 4 and 10 5 conidia mL −1 . The average brown rot incidence ranged from 44–82% to 63–100% in ‘Summer Rich’ and ‘Placido’ peaches, respectively. Brown rot reduction did not generally depend on the time of inoculation. RF treatment significantly decreased the incidence of brown rot in ‘Summer Rich’ peaches inoculated at 10 3 , 10 4 and 10 5 conidia mL −1 , whereas in ‘Placido’ peaches, brown rot was only reduced when fruit were inoculated at 10 3 conidia mL −1 . The RF treatment was also investigated in naturally infected fruit where the Monilinia spp. development was completely inhibited in both ‘Summer Rich’ and ‘Placido’ peaches. No brown rot control was observed in nectarine fruit artificially inoculated or with natural inoculum.
Panagiotis Madesis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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identification and differentiation of Monilinia species causing brown rot of pome and stone fruit using high resolution melting hrm analysis
Phytopathology, 2016Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Madesis, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruit caused by Monilinia spp. Among these species, Monilinia fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in Europe but has recently been detected in several European countries. Identification of brown rot agents relies on morphological differences or use of molecular methods requiring fungal isolation. The current study was initiated to develop and validate a high-resolution melting (HRM) method for the identification of the Monilinia spp. and for the detection of M. fructicola among other brown rot pathogens. Based on the sequence of the cytb intron from M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. mumecola, M. linhartiana, and M. yunnanensis isolates originating from several countries, a pair of universal primers for species identification and a pair of primers specific to M. fructicola were designed. The specificity of the primers was verified to ensure against cross-reaction with other fungal species. The melting curve analysis using the universal primers generated si...
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identification and differentiation of Monilinia species causing brown rot of pome and stone fruit using high resolution melting hrm analysis
Phytopathology, 2016Co-Authors: Antonios Papavasileiou, Panagiotis Madesis, G S KaraoglanidisAbstract:Brown rot is a devastating disease of stone fruit caused by Monilinia spp. Among these species, Monilinia fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in Europe but has recently been detected in several European countries. Identification of brown rot agents relies on morphological differences or use of molecular methods requiring fungal isolation. The current study was initiated to develop and validate a high-resolution melting (HRM) method for the identification of the Monilinia spp. and for the detection of M. fructicola among other brown rot pathogens. Based on the sequence of the cytb intron from M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena, M. mumecola, M. linhartiana, and M. yunnanensis isolates originating from several countries, a pair of universal primers for species identification and a pair of primers specific to M. fructicola were designed. The specificity of the primers was verified to ensure against cross-reaction with other fungal species. The melting curve analysis using the universal primers generated six different HRM curve profiles, each one specific for each species. Τhe HRM analysis primers specific to M. fructicola amplified a 120-bp region with a distinct melt profile corresponding to the presence of M. fructicola, regardless of the presence of other species. HRM analysis can be a useful tool for rapid identification and differentiation of the six Monilinia spp. using a single primer pair. This novel assay has the potential for simultaneous identification and differentiation of the closely related Monilinia spp. as well as for the differentiation of M. fructicola from other common pathogens or saprophytes that may occur on the diseased fruit.
Marta Mari - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Monilinia species of fruit decay a comparison between biological and epidemiological data
Italian Journal of Mycology, 2018Co-Authors: Alessandra Di Francesco, Marta MariAbstract:The fungal genus Monilinia Honey includes parasitic species of Rosaceae and Ericaceae. The Monilinia genus shows a great heterogeneity, it is divided in two sections: Junctoriae and Disjunctoriae. These sections were defined by Batra (1991) on the basis of morphology, infection biology, and host specialization. Junctoriae spp. produce mitospore chains without disjunctors, they are parasites of Rosaceae spp.; M. laxa, M. fructicola, M. fructigena and recently M. polystroma, represent the principal species of the section, and they are responsible of economically important diseases of Rosaceae, new species such as M. yunnanensis, and M. mumecola could afflict European fruits in the future in absence of a strict phytosanitary control. The Disjunctoriae section includes species that produce mitospores intercalated by appendages (disjunctors); they parasitize Rosaceae, Ericaceae, and Empetraceae. The principal Disjunctoriae species are M. vaccinii-corymbosi, M. urnula, M. baccarum, M. oxycocci, and M. linhartiana. This study has the aim to underline the importance of Monilinia spp., and to describe their features.
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control of Monilinia rots on fruit naturally infected by hot water treatment in commercial trials
Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2013Co-Authors: Alice Spadoni, Fiorella Neri, Paolo Bertolini, Marta MariAbstract:Abstract In recent years, safer methods for the control of fruit postharvest pathogens have been investigated and heat treatment could represent an effective and safe approach for managing postharvest decay such as Monilinia rots. In the present study, the effect of hot water treatment (HWT) (60 °C for 30 and 60 s) on brown rot was investigated. More specifically, the influence of HWT was determined in in vitro trials on conidial germination of Monilinia laxa, Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia fructigena and in peach and nectarine fruit, naturally infected. The effect of hot water application on fruit quality was also assessed. M. fructicola showed a greater resistance to heat than M. laxa and M. fructigena, however conidia germination of all three species was completely inhibited by a dipping in hot water for 1 min at 55 °C. The results of a large scale experiment under commercial conditions and several pilot trials showed a good antifungal activity of HWT in naturally infected fruit. After 6 days at 0 °C and 3 days at 20 °C, in both semi-commercial and commercial trials, the inhibition of decay was higher than 78% in four trials out of six. In addition, the treated fruit showed an acceptable commercial quality and no visual damage was observed as a consequence of HWT. The results demonstrated that HWT is a promising method to control Monilinia rots of peach and nectarine, and is safe and readily available for conventional and organic production under commercial conditions.
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postharvest biocontrol of Monilinia laxa Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia fructigena on stone fruit by two aureobasidium pullulans strains
Biological Control, 2012Co-Authors: Marta Mari, Camilla Martini, Michela Guidarelli, F NeriAbstract:Abstract The antagonistic effects of yeasts, L1 and L8, isolated from carposphere of ‘Redhaven’ peaches were tested for the first time in the same experiment against three Monilinia species ( Monilinia laxa , Monilinia fructicola and Monilinia fructigena ) in in vitro and in vivo trials. The two antagonists were selected after preliminary assays for their ability to reduce brown rot in peaches and nectarines, and both were identified by molecular and morphological tools as Aureobasidium pullulans . In in vivo trials, neither the autoclaved cells, nor the sterile culture filtrates of either antagonist showed any significant reduction of rot incidence produced by inocula of the three Monilinia species, while the washed cells of L1 and L8 completely inhibited M. laxa and M. fructicola rots and reduced M. fructigena infections by 70% and 90%, respectively. In other trials, nectarines treated with antagonist cells and inoculated with the pathogens were stored at 0 °C for 21 days, plus 7 days at 20 °C. The low temperature reduced brown rot development, since all fruit were free from disease symptoms on removal from cold storage. However after 7 d at 20 °C, untreated fruit were rotted over 45% depending on the Monilinia species but the antagonists completely inhibited M. laxa and M. fructicola , while M. fructigena infections were reduced by 89.8% and 91.2% by L1 and L8, respectively. For both strains, 10 8 CFU ml −1 was the most active concentration, although L1 showed good activity at a concentration of 10 7 CFU ml −1 . Isolate L8 at the concentration of 10 7 CFU ml −1 was ineffective against M. fructicola and M. fructigena , showing no difference between treated fruit and the control, excepting the case of nectarines inoculated with M. laxa , where L8 at the concentration of 10 7 CFU ml −1 reduced the brown rot infections with respect to the control. The increase in population density of A. pullulans strains L1 and L8 in the wounds of nectarines stored at 0° or 20 °C was low but sufficient to control brown rot. In conclusion, the present preliminary study identified two antagonistic strains of A. pullulans as active ingredients for the development of biofungicides for postharvest application against three Monilinia species that are responsible for high economic losses in stone fruit crops.
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postharvest control of Monilinia laxa and rhizopus stolonifer in stone fruit by peracetic acid
Postharvest Biology and Technology, 2004Co-Authors: Marta Mari, R Gregori, I DonatiAbstract:Abstract Peracetic acid (PAA) treatment of stone fruit (sweet cherry, apricot, peach and nectarine) reduced the incidence of brown rot caused by Monilinia laxa and soft rot caused by Rhizopus stolonifer . The efficacy of the treatment depended on the length of time. Fruit, neither wounded nor inoculated and dipped for 1 min in a 125 mg L −1 PAA solution, showed a significant reduction of Monilinia rots with respect to control. Significant inhibition was also observed on fruit wounded and inoculated with R. stolonifer and treated for 1 min with 250 mg L −1 PAA solution. Sodium bicarbonate (SBC), sodium propionate (Na-Pro) and potassium sorbate (K-Sorb), substances generally regarded as safe (GRAS), were also evaluated. Phytotoxic effects appeared on fruit treated with SBC at the minimum effective concentration (3%). Any rot reduction was observed in Na-Pro fruit treated, only K-Sorb at 1.5% was able to significantly reduce Monilinia infections in sweet cherries (61.6%), apricots (78%) and nectarines (31.8%) with respect to the controls, without any visible damage on the skin. Similar results were obtained on apricot wounded and inoculated with R. stolonifer . Fruit hydro-refrigeration significantly reduced the incidence of brown rot in Nero I and Van sweet cherries; disease control was improved by addition of PAA (125 mg L −1 ) in cold water. PAA efficacy on pre-existing infections can be very useful to control stone fruit diseases that can spread during shipping and marketing.