Improvement of Candida sake biocontrol activity against post-harvest decay by the addition of ammonium molybdate.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the efficacy of Candida sake by adding ammonium molybdate to control post-harvest decay in Golden Delicious apples.


RESULTS
In laboratory trials, C. sake 2 x 10(6) cfu ml(-)1 plus 5 mmol l(-1) ammonium molybdate greatly reduced Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea or Rhizopus stolonifer in apples stored at 20 degrees C for 7 days, and reduced by more than 90% blue and grey mould in apples stored at 1 degrees C for 60 days. The consistency of these results was maintained in semi-commercial trials at 1 degrees C in air and in a low oxygen atmosphere for 120 days. The pre-harvest application of C. sake 2 x 10(7) cfu ml(-1) plus 1 mmol l(-1) ammonium molybdate did not improve post-harvest biocontrol of blue mould. The population of C. sake significantly decreased in the presence of ammonium molybdate in apple wounds.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of ammonium molybdate at 5 mmol l(-1) to C. sake enhanced the efficacy of the antagonist to control post-harvest diseases on apples.


CONCLUSIONS
Ammonium molybdate significantly reduces the amount of C. sake biomass required to achieve post-harvest disease control, with a consequent reduction in costs. This may be useful in the industrial production of C. sake.
Nunes
C
C
Postharvest Unit, CeRTA, Centre UdL-IRTA, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. nunes.carla@mail.telepac.pt
Usall
J
J
Teixidó
N
N
Viñas
I
I
D000898:Antibiosis; D020171:Botrytis / Q000187:drug effects; D002175:Candida / Q000254:growth & development*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D027845:Malus / Q000382:microbiology*; D008982:Molybdenum / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D012233:Rhizopus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
D008982:Molybdenum; C022175:ammonium molybdate