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Postharvest Pathology and Mycotoxins

Postharvest Biological Control of Blue Mold on Apples. W. J. Janisiewicz, Research plant pathologist, USDA-ARS, Appalachian Fruit Research Station, Kearneysville, WV 25430; Phytopathology 77:481-485. Accepted for publication 6 May 1986. Copyright 1987 The American Phytopathological Society. DOI: 10.1094/Phyto-77-481.

Blue mold, a major postharvest disease of apples caused by Penicillium expansum was controlled with an antagonistic bacterium (L-22-64) and a yeast (F-43-31). Potential antagonists were isolated from apple plants throughout the year and from stored fruit. Golden Delicious apples were wound-inoculated with varying concentrations of antagonists and P. expansum. Lesion development was related to pathogen spore concentration and the concentration of the antagonist. The highest spore concentration of the pathogen (1 × 10² spores per milliliter) was totally controlled by higher concentrations of the antagonist. This protection was ongoing because subsequent reinoculation of wounds did not result in lesion development.