▪ Abstract Losses from postharvest fruit diseases range from 1 to 20 percent in the United States, depending on the commodity. The application of fungicides to fruits after harvest to reduce decay has been increasingly curtailed by the development of pathogen resistance to many key fungicides, the lack of replacement fungicides, negative public perception regarding the safety of pesticides and consequent restrictions on fungicide use. Biological control of postharvest diseases (BCPD) has emerged as an effective alternative. Because wound-invading necrotrophic pathogens are vulnerable to biocontrol, antagonists can be applied directly to the targeted area (fruit wounds), and a single application using existing delivery systems (drenches, line sprayers, on-line dips) can significantly reduce fruit decays. The pioneering biocontrol products BioSave and Aspire were registered by EPA in 1995 for control of postharvest rots of pome and citrus fruit, respectively, and are commercially available. The limitations ...

Biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits.

https://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/bitstream/123456789/28711/1/Dr.%20Rajbir%20Singh_Biological%20Control.pdf

Biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables by microbial antagonists: A review

https://pubag.nal.usda.gov/pubag/downloadPDF.xhtml?id=28805&content=PDF

Twenty years of postharvest biocontrol research: Is it time for a new paradigm?

s Background Impressive progress was made in the last decade in development, registration and commercialization of biocontrol products based on yeast to manage postharvest pathogens of fruit. To successfully inhibit the pathogen infection and development, several possible mechanisms operate in a tritrophic host-pathogen-antagonist interaction system. Scope and Approach The current reviews focuses on the recent knowledge on the mechanisms by which yeast biocontrol agents (BCAs) interact with pathogens and fruit tissues. The main mechanisms of action explored include antibiosis, mycoparasitism, production of lytic enzymes, induced resistance, competition for limiting nutrients and space, and the role of oxidative stress. Omics techniques can provide a powerful tool to study complex fruit host-pathogen-antagonist-native microflora interactions. Key Findings and Conclusions Various aspects relevant to mechanisms of action of yeast antagonists have been discussed, including unique environment of surface wounds, iron competition, biofilm formation, cell wall degrading enzymes, and involvement of oxidative stress. Outstanding advancement in molecular and omics technologies revolutionized the research about the physiological status of BCAs and the global effect of the application of BCAs on the transcriptome and/or proteome of fruit. Microbial communities on plant surfaces could impact disease control through their interactions with host plants, pathogens, and BCAs, in a quadritrophic interaction system, hence microbiome research opens new research opportunities. The complex modes of action make antagonistic performance and efficacy more dependent on production, formulation, packing, application, and storage. A deep understanding of the mode of action is essential to develop appropriate formulation and methods of application.

Development of biocontrol products for postharvest diseases of fruit: The importance of elucidating the mechanisms of action of yeast antagonists

Review: Utilization of antagonistic yeasts to manage postharvest fungal diseases of fruit.

Mode of action of the postharvest biocontrol yeast, Pichia guilliermondii. I. Characterization of attachment to Botrytis cinerea

Biological control of post-harvest diseases of fruits and vegetables: alternatives to synthetic fungicides

Control of Phytophthora root rot of chile peppers by irrigation practices and fungicides

Abstract. Chaetomium globosum is in the Kingdom Fungi (Mycota), Phylum Ascomycota. Although C. globosum is a soilborne fungus, it also commonly infests water-damaged buildings. The hyphae and ascospores can be highly allergenic. C. globosum isolates found in buildings and homes were investigated to determine their halotolerance response to various salts. Malt extract agar (MEA) or broth was amended with either NaCl, KCl, CaCl2, or MgCl2 at concentrations from 0 to 2 M. Ascospore germination, ascospore synthesis, vegetative growth (hyphal), and perithecia development were measured. C. globosum ascospore germination was inhibited by 1 M NaCl-amended media, but not by 1 M KCl-amended media. Ascospore synthesis and vegetative growth were inhibited when grown in 1 M KCl, 1 M NaCl, 1 M MgCl2, and 1 M CaCl2-amended media. However, 100 mM CaCl2-amended plates inhibited ascospore synthesis. Growth of C. globosum in broth cultures showed similar growth patterns in salt-amended media. Perithecia synthesis was inhibited at 1 and 2 M concentrations of NaCl and KCl. Extracellular protein content was not different in the 0-100 mM treatments. However, extracellular protein synthesis as an indicator of vegetative growth and metabolic stress activity, was less in the 1 M NaCl-amended broth, and 7 to 10-fold lower in the 2 M NaCl-amended broth treatments. C. globosum isolates appeared to be halotolerant and only relatively high concentrations of salt inhibited the growth, ascospore synthesis, germination, and perithecia production. This research may have applications in controlling indoor mold growth and further the understanding of halotolerance in Chaetomium spp.

Charles L. Biles

Papers

Mode of action of the postharvest biocontrol yeast, Pichia guilliermondii. I. Characterization of attachment to Botrytis cinerea

Biological control of post-harvest diseases of fruits and vegetables: alternatives to synthetic fungicides

Control of Phytophthora root rot of chile peppers by irrigation practices and fungicides

Salt tolerance of Chaetomium globosum, a common indoor mold

Fungi as environmental bioindicators.