Penicillium expansum is the causal agent of blue mould, a major postharvest disease of pome fruits, and is also responsible for the production of the mycotoxin patulin, which contaminates infected fruits and derived products. Thiabendazole is currently used for postharvest treatment. The use of this benzimidazole fungicide, however, is nor deprived of toxicological risks and is often ineffective beacue of the raise and large diffusion of P. expansum benzimidazole-resistant strains in packinghouses. For these reasons, new effective fungicides and safer control strategies are needed. The objective of this study was to assay the combined application of two selected biocontrol yeasts, Rhodotorula glutinis LS11 and Cryptococcus laurentii LS28, with low dosages of thiabendazole or of more recently developed fungicides such as boscalid, cyprodinil and fenexamide, to control more efficiently blue mould on stored apples. Isolates LS11 and LS28 were compatible in vitro with high doses of boscalid and cyprodinil. In vitro assays also showed that several thiabendazole-resistant strains of P. expansum were strongly inhibited by cyprodinil. Further experiments performed in vivo on wounded apples treated with combinations of the biocontrol yeasts and cyprodinil showed that a more effective and prolonged control of blue mould was obtained by the biocontrol yeasts when applied together with cyprodinil at a low dose. This treatment also resulted in lower levels of patulin and fungicide residues in apples. Our data suggest that the integration of biocontrol yeasts with a low rate of cyprodinil may be an useful and safer strategy to control the attack of P. expansum to stored apples.

Integration of biocontrol yeasts and new fungicides to control Penicillium expansum and patulin contamination in apples

LIMA, Giuseppe;CASTORIA, Raffaello
2009-01-01

Abstract

Penicillium expansum is the causal agent of blue mould, a major postharvest disease of pome fruits, and is also responsible for the production of the mycotoxin patulin, which contaminates infected fruits and derived products. Thiabendazole is currently used for postharvest treatment. The use of this benzimidazole fungicide, however, is nor deprived of toxicological risks and is often ineffective beacue of the raise and large diffusion of P. expansum benzimidazole-resistant strains in packinghouses. For these reasons, new effective fungicides and safer control strategies are needed. The objective of this study was to assay the combined application of two selected biocontrol yeasts, Rhodotorula glutinis LS11 and Cryptococcus laurentii LS28, with low dosages of thiabendazole or of more recently developed fungicides such as boscalid, cyprodinil and fenexamide, to control more efficiently blue mould on stored apples. Isolates LS11 and LS28 were compatible in vitro with high doses of boscalid and cyprodinil. In vitro assays also showed that several thiabendazole-resistant strains of P. expansum were strongly inhibited by cyprodinil. Further experiments performed in vivo on wounded apples treated with combinations of the biocontrol yeasts and cyprodinil showed that a more effective and prolonged control of blue mould was obtained by the biocontrol yeasts when applied together with cyprodinil at a low dose. This treatment also resulted in lower levels of patulin and fungicide residues in apples. Our data suggest that the integration of biocontrol yeasts with a low rate of cyprodinil may be an useful and safer strategy to control the attack of P. expansum to stored apples.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11695/8574
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