Abstract
Blue mold, caused by Penicillium spp., is one of the most economically important postharvest diseases of pome fruits, globally. Pome fruits, in particular apple, is the most widely grown pome fruit in Serbia, and the distribution of Penicillium spp. responsible for postharvest decay is unknown. A two-year survey was conducted in 2014 and 2015, where four pome fruits (apple, pear, quince, and medlar) with blue mold symptoms were collected from 20 storage locations throughout Serbia. Detailed morphological characterization, analysis of virulence in three apple cultivars, and multilocus phylogeny revealed three main Penicillium spp. in order of abundance: P. expansum, P. crustosum, and P. solitum. Interestingly, P. expansum split into two distinct clades with strong statistical support that coincided with several morphological observations. Findings from this study are significant and showed previously undocumented diversity in blue mold fungi responsible for postharvest decay including the first finding of P. crustosum, and P. solitum as postharvest pathogens of quince and P. crustosum of medlar fruit in the world, and P. expansum of quince in Serbia. Data from this study provide timely information regarding phenotypic, morphological and genotypic plasticity in P. expansum that will impact the design of species-specific detection tools and guide the development of blue mold management strategies.
Highlights
IntroductionPome fruits consist of apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), pears (Pyrus communis L.), quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), Asian pear (Pyrus seratina Rehd.), medlar (Mespilus germanica L.), and many other wild species of the Rosaceae family [1]
PCA analysis grouped 14 representative isolates based on macro- and micromorData regarding theonincidence of blue and mold decay, Delicious’
It separates more virwhile blue mold on quince caused by P. expansum, P. crustosum and P. solitum is a novel find in Serbia
Summary
Pome fruits consist of apples (Malus domestica Borkh.), pears (Pyrus communis L.), quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.), Asian pear (Pyrus seratina Rehd.), medlar (Mespilus germanica L.), and many other wild species of the Rosaceae family [1]. Most pome fruits are stored for extended periods of time (6 to 12 months) in a cold and controlled atmosphere. This allows fruit to be preserved and be of high quality so they can be available for year-round consumption and for trade to other countries. Fruit rots reduce fresh fruit for consumption, negatively impact fruit quality, and contribute to mycotoxin contamination, patulin, which is the case for Penicillium spp. Fruit rots reduce fresh fruit for consumption, negatively impact fruit quality, and contribute to mycotoxin contamination, patulin, which is the case for Penicillium spp. [2]
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