Abstract
Soft rot caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea and Phomopsis sp. is a critical disease in kiwifruit. In order to efficiently control soft rot, a 28.6% chitosan composite film (CCF) containing chitosan, dextrin, ferulic acid, calcium, and auxiliaries was successfully developed. The results showed that CCF had a strong inhibitory effect on mycelia growth of B. dothidea and Phomopsis sp., with mycelial EC50 values of 68.11 and 50.34 mg L−1, respectively. The concentration of 0.71–1.42 g L−1 CCF had noticeably preventive and curative effects against soft rot. The spray of CCF before pathogen infection effectively reduced the incidence of soft rot, remarkably increased the content of resistance compounds, and activated the activity of defense enzymes. Moreover, it notably enhanced the yield and quality and prolonged the shelf life of kiwifruit. Therefore, the excellent control effects of CCF against soft rot might be associated with its film-forming property and antifungal activity, which prevent infection and induce plant defense mechanisms. The concentration of 0.71–1.42 g L−1 CCF was optimal for the field application before the onset of disease symptoms in plants with B. dothidea and Phomopsis sp.
Highlights
Kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) is very popular among consumers due to its high nutritional value.The harvested area and yield of kiwifruit in the world has continuously increased in the 21st century [1,2].postharvest diseases caused by pathogens are a serious problem for the storage of kiwifruit and have resulted in decay and a decrease in quality, shelf life, and consumer acceptability [3,4]
Soft rot is a key disease of postharvest kiwifruit, which is mainly caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis sp., Cryptosporiopsis actinidiae, Botrytis cinerea, Cylindrocarpon sp., and Phoma exigua [5,6,7,8,9]
The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the effects of a chitosan composite film (CCF) against soft rot sprayed before pathogen infection, and (ii) to study the mechanisms involved in the resistance to kiwifruit soft rot
Summary
Postharvest diseases caused by pathogens are a serious problem for the storage of kiwifruit and have resulted in decay and a decrease in quality, shelf life, and consumer acceptability [3,4]. Soft rot is a key disease of postharvest kiwifruit, which is mainly caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis sp., Cryptosporiopsis actinidiae, Botrytis cinerea, Cylindrocarpon sp., and Phoma exigua [5,6,7,8,9]. Are the key fungal pathogens causing decay in the kiwifruit cultivar Guichang [10]. They can enter kiwifruit tissues at early growth stages and remain latent there until the fruit ripens; the fungal pathogens begin to recover their infectious capacity, eventually causing fruit rot symptoms during storage [9,11]. The safe and effective control of soft rot in kiwifruit is a challenge
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