title: The effect of locust bean gum (LBG)-based edible coatings carrying biocontrol yeasts against Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum causal agents of postharvest decay of mandarin fruit.
abstract: Strains belonging to Wickerhamomyces anomalus, Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Aureobasidium pullulans species were tested in vitro as biocontrol agents (BCAs) against the post-harvest pathogenic molds Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum. Moreover, studies aimed at screening the antifungal activity of selected yeast strains in vivo conditions against P. digitatum and P. italicum, and investigated the efficacy of a polysaccharidic matrix, locust bean gum (LBG), enriched with the tested BCAs, in controlling postharvest decays in artificially inoculated mandarins. The population dynamics of BCAs on wounds and the magnitude of peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in fruit tissues were also investigated after treatments of mandarins with antagonistic yeasts. W. anomalus BS91, M. pulcherrima MPR3 and A. pullulans PI1 provided excellent control of postharvest decays caused by P. digitatum and P. italicum on mandarins, both when the yeasts were used alone and in combination with LBG, which enhanced the yeast cell viability over time. Finally, the increased activity of POD and lower decrease in SOD activity in response to BCAs application in mandarin fruits confirmed their involvement in the biocontrol mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parafati
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy. Electronic address: crestu@unict.it.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Restuccia
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente (Di3A), University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123 Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cirvilleri
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D002957:Citrus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005519:Food Preservation; D005638:Fruit / Q000201:enzymology / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005685:Galactans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008351:Mannans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055163:Metschnikowia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D025282:Mycelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D010407:Penicillium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D010843:Pichia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D005685:Galactans; D008351:Mannans; D053149:Plant Gums; D009195:Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C017471:locust bean gum
keywords: Antagonistic yeasts; Green and blue mould decays; LBG