title: Combining UV-C treatment with biocontrol yeast to control postharvest decay of melon.
abstract: Significant losses in harvested melon can be directly attributable to decay fungi. In the present study, the use of UV-C treatment combined with biocontrol yeast, Pichia cecembensis, was evaluated for their ability to control postharvest decay of melon fruits after they were artificially inoculated with Fusarium oxysporum and Alternaria alternata. Natural infection of fruit was also assessed. As a stand-alone treatment, UV-C or P. cecembensis significantly reduced Fusarium rot and Alternaria rot, and also the level of natural infection on melon fruit, relative to the untreated control. The combination of UV-C or P. cecembensis, however, provided a superior level of decay control on artificially inoculated and naturally infected fruit, compared to either treatment alone. None of the treatments impaired fruit quality. Integrating the use of UV-C treatment with biocontrol yeast has potential as an effective method to control postharvest decay of melon.
authors.affiliation: College of Forestry & Life Science/Institute of Special Plants, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, 319 Honghe Road, Yongchuan, 402160, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yiqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000502:physiology; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D019662:Cucurbitaceae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005519:Food Preservation; D063427:Food Quality; D061353:Food Storage; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D005670:Fusarium / Q000502:physiology; D010843:Pichia / Q000502:physiology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents