Abstract
Penicillium citrinum was isolated from fruits of a packinghouse in San Pedro Lagunillas, Nayarit, Mexico and turned out to be an endemic pathogen against Persian lime. This is the first report that involves this strain as a pathogen for citrus. The yeast Debaryomyces hansenii was evaluated for its effectiveness against P. citrinum in Persian lime. Dextrose and Tween 80 were added to the D. hansenii suspension in order to enhance its establishment in the fruit carposphere. The control of Persian lime decay caused by P. citrinum in postharvest and yeast population dynamics were evaluated. A 100% decay inhibition was obtained by the sole application of Debaryomyces hansenii even if population counts were minimal (3.3x105 CFU/fruit) at the end of the storage period (25th day) at 25°C and 60-75% of relative humidity. On the other hand, treatments with dextrose and Tween 80 promoted a better establishment of the yeast (3.2x108 UFC/fruit - 25 days storage), but infection by P. citrinum on Persian lime was higher (20 to 60% of infected fruits).
Highlights
Citriculture in Mexico is an activity of economic and social importance: it is carried out in just over half a million hectares in regions with tropical and subtropical climate in 23 states (SIAP, 2012)
Important pathogens of the genus Penicillium found in citrus are: P. digitatum [(Pers.) Sacc.] (Green mold) which is ubiquitous to the whole citrus growing regions
The results of this study provide important information on the pathogenicity of this fungus on Persian lime from Nayarit
Summary
Citriculture in Mexico is an activity of economic and social importance: it is carried out in just over half a million hectares in regions with tropical and subtropical climate in 23 states (SIAP, 2012). Citrus postharvest diseases caused by fungi cause economic losses throughout the world (Eckert and Eaks, 1989). P. italicum Wehmer (Blue mold) whose initial symptoms are similar to those of green mold encompassed by a definite band of water-soaked rind, the infected fruit can be covered entirely by a mass of blue spores (Brown and Eckert, 1988). Emerging infectious diseases are caused by pathogens with increased incidence. They have changed pathogenesis, are newly evolved; or have been discovered or newly recognized. In this way plant diseases impact negatively on human wellbeing through agricultural and economic losses (Anderson et al, 2004). The establishment of the antagonist at the carposphere of the Received: 29 September 2016; Revised: 17 January 2017; Accepted: 23 January 2017; Published Online: 29 January 2017
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