ARS | Publication request: Selecting antagonists for control of postharvest brown rot of stone fruits originating from latent infections

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 1, 2011
Publication Date: June 1, 2011
Citation: Janisiewicz, W.J., Pimenta, R.S., Jurick Ii, W.M. 2011. Selecting antagonists for control of postharvest brown rot of stone fruits originating from latent infections (abstract). Phytopathology. p. 54.

Technical Abstract: In contrast to biological control of postharvest decays (BCPD) of fruits originating from wound infections after harvest, BCPD originating from latent infections occurring in the orchard has not been developed. This is largely due to the lack of methodology to screen and evaluate microbes for biocontrol activity against this type of infection. Therefore, we have developed a novel approach where interactions between the pathogen structure involved in latent infection (appressorium) and the test microorganism can be evaluated in vitro and then in situ on fruit for biocontrol activity. Appressoria of the brown rot pathogen, Monilinia fructicola, were produced on wax membranes or parafilm, and were treated with the test microbes. Microorganisms colonizing appressoria and mycelium were further tested for biocontrol activity on fruit containing artificially induced latent infections under laboratory conditions. We found several effective antagonists using this approach. The next step is to select those antagonists that are best adapted to conditions occurring during storage and handling of fruit.