Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Kearneysville, West Virginia » Appalachian Fruit Research Laboratory » Innovative Fruit Production, Improvement, and Protection » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #177030

Title: EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ACTIVITY OF METSCHNIKOWIA PULCHERRIMA FOR CONTROL OF BLUE MOLD IN 'MCINTOSH' APPLES IN COLD STORAGE, 2003-2004

Author
item ERRAMPALLID, DWL - AGRI-FOOD, CANADA
item Janisiewicz, Wojciech

Submitted to: Canadian Pest Management Research Reports
Publication Type: Research Notes
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/19/2005
Publication Date: 7/10/2006
Citation: Errampallid, D., Janisiewicz, W.J. 2006. Evaluation of biological control activity of Metschnikowia pulcherrima for control of blue mold in 'Mcintosh' apples in cold storage, 2003-2004. Canadian Pest Management Research Reports 43:118-120.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: A yeast antagonist, Metschnikowia pulcherrima, was tested for efficacy against blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum on 'McIntosh' apples. The trial was conducted on commercially ripe apples. Apples were disinfected in 10% household bleach (5% sodium hypochlorite) and 0.01% Tween 20 (Fisher Scientific) for four minutes and rinsed in reverse osmosis water for four minutes. After disinfection, apples were placed on plastic packing inserts contained in plastic boxes. The apples were punctured and inoculated within 45 minutes of wounding with a 20 µl drop consisting of one of the three concentrations of M. pulcherrima with Penicillium expansum isolate PS-1R. Treated apples were incubated at 4ºC for three months. Apples in each of the experiments were evaluated for decay after the respective incubation periods. After the first fruit decay evaluations following incubation at 4ºC, the fruits were moved to 20ºC, 85% RH and incubated for six days to determine the efficacy of the biocontrol agent on the shelf life of the fruit. The fruit were again evaluated for blue mold incidence. The data obtained was analyzed with a SigmaStat statistical package. The results indicate that the initial low decay incidence increased with time. After 28 days of incubation, 28% blue mold infection was observed in the inoculum only treatment, while the treatments with the combination of M. pulcherrima and the pathogen ranged between 0 to 8%. Better control was achieved with the lower concentrations of the pathogen inoculum. The combinations of M. pulcherrima at 1.6 x 10 7 CFU/ml and P. expansum at 1 x 10 4 conidia/ml resulted in no decay and only 2.8% decay after 28 and 58 days of storage, respectively. Control declined to 39% after 86 days of storage.