title: Biological control of peach fungal pathogens by commercial products and indigenous yeasts.
abstract: The potential use of the commercial biocontrol products Serenade (Bacillus subtilis QST-713) and Trichodex (Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain T39) to inhibit the postharvest pathogenic molds Penicillium crustosum and Mucor circinelloides was investigated. Both products exhibited antagonistic activity in vitro against the pathogens, reducing their growth at different levels. In addition, epiphytic yeasts isolated from peaches were identified as Candida maltosa, Pichia fermentans, and Pichia kluyveri by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism of internal transcribed spacer regions and screened for antagonistic activity against the same molds. The efficacy of biocontrol in vitro was dependent on the concentration of the yeast cells. Optimal yeast concentrations were above 10(7) CFU ml(-1). However, C. maltosa and P. fermentans were more effective than P. kluyveri in inhibiting molds. The exclusion of antifungal metabolite production and direct competition for nutrients or space with the pathogens was proposed as the mechanism of biocontrol. Application of biocontrol agents directly on artificially wounded peach fruits significantly reduced the incidence of mold rot during storage at 20 degrees C.
authors.affiliation: DOFATA-Sezione Tecnologie Agroalimentari, University of Catania-via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy. crestu@unict.it
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Restuccia
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giusino
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Licciardello
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Randazzo
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caggia
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muratore
mesh_terms: D000898:Antibiosis; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000254:growth & development; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000032:analysis; D005519:Food Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D006801:Humans; D009089:Mucor / Q000502:physiology; D010407:Penicillium / Q000502:physiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D027861:Prunus / Q000382:microbiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000254:growth & development; D015003:Yeasts / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal