The aerial and fruit surface populations of fungi in nonchemical banana production in the Philippines

The fungal population in the air and on developing fruit on a nonchemical banana farm in the Philippines was estimated from January 1998 to December 2001 to follow the source, determine the origin, and establish the population dynamics of various fungi associated with postharvest diseases of banana. Forty fungal genera were found in the air on a nonchemical banana farm and 26 were found on developing fruit. Spore density in the air and on the surface of developing fruit varied with seasonal patterns. Fungi of various species were detected on the farm and on developing banana fruit, but it has not been established as to when a specific fungus arrived at the farm and on the fruit. The results suggest that the source and origin of fungi associated with postharvest diseases of banana fruit in Japan imported from the Philippines were the farm itself, and the fungal association with banana fruit began at flower emergence.     

Identification of pests and pathogens recorded in Europe with relation to fruit imports

Within the framework of the EU project DROPSA (‘Strategies to develop effective, innovative and practical approaches to protect major European fruit crops from pests and pathogens’), a review on pests (including pathogens) that have fruit species as their host plants was conducted. The focus was on pests that have been introduced into Europe or were found in the fruit trade during the last 10–15 years. Among the 387 recorded pests, the following groups were identified: 1. fruit and vinegar flies, 2. scale insects, 3. fungi, 4. plant viruses, 5. bacteria, 6. pests of unknown risk, 7. tropical fruit pests, 8. pests that had an unexpected change of hosts, 9. fruit pests not likely to be transported on fruit and 10. ‘hitchhikers’ (non‐fruit pests intercepted on fruit/fruit plants, fruit pests intercepted on other commodities than fruit). The large number of pests identified, from different taxonomic groups and origins, shows that fruit are an important pathway for pests, threatening fruit production in Europe.     

Factors affecting the efficacy of post-harvest fungicide applications for the control of blue mould (Penicillium expansum) in stored apples

The effects of apple fruit maturity, temperature of fruit or dip solution, period of time in fungicidal dip, storage conditions, and spore inoculum concentration, on the efficacy of fungicides for control of blue mould ( Penicillium expansum ) were examined in various experiments.
Iprodione and imazalil were only effective when inoculum concentration was low, whilst prochloraz was highly effective in controlling rot on fruit inoculated with 3 × 10⁶ spores/ml. There was no consistent effect of dip temperature or fruit maturity on the efficacy of the fungicides. Iprodione was more effective on warm fruit (19°C) than cold fruit (6°C) whilst the reverse was true of imazalil. Extended periods of immersion in the fungicides slightly reduced the incidence of rotting but not to any useful degree.
The incidence of rotting in fruit treated with prochloraz and etaconazole was less in fruit stored under controlled-atmosphere cold storage conditions than in fruit stored in air cold-storage. Both fungicides were also effective for short-term storage at 20 C in air. Captan, benomyl, captan plus benomyl or vinclozolin were either ineffective or of poor efficacy under all storage conditions.     

Decay control and fungicide residues in citrus fruits seal-packed in a high-density polyethylene film

The effects of a new packaging method of sealing individual fruits in film of highdensity polyethylene (HDPE), on decay control and the residue levels of various fungicides applied to the fruit, were investigated with four different citrus cultivars. HDPE seal-packaging by itself reduced the decay of Marsh grapefruit but slightly enhanced the decay of Valencia orange fruit in comparison with conventionally handled fruit. Seal-packaging of individual fruit resulted in much less decay than sealing a whole carton of fruit together. The fungicides imazalil, sec-butylamine, 2-phenylphenol, benomyl and thiabendazole markedly reduced the decay of sealed fruit in all cultivars of citrus fruits tested. Residue levels in treated fruit were below the tolerances permitted. The new method of packaging had no effect on the residue levels of benomyl, 2-phenyl-phenol and thiabendazole in the fruit; neither did it affect the extent of absorption of these fungicides into the fruit. Only the volatile fungicide sec-butylamine was found at a higher level (73% higher in the packaged fruit compared with conventionally treated fruit).     

Evaluation of screening methods and fruit composition in relation to anthracnose fruit rot resistance in blueberries

Anthracnose fruit rot is an important disease of blueberries, and losses are common in humid growing regions. Most commercial cultivars are susceptible and the disease is usually managed with fungicides. However, a few cultivars are considered resistant. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare different inoculation techniques for anthracnose fruit rot resistance screening, (ii) screen ripe fruit from a range of blueberry cultivars using selected techniques, and (iii) investigate the role of fruit characteristics in anthracnose fruit rot resistance. The following inoculation methods were evaluated on ripe fruit of a susceptible and resistant cultivar using a conidial suspension: spray, droplet, and injection inoculation of whole fruit; and droplet inoculation of the open surface of cut fruit. All whole‐fruit inoculations yielded similar results. Despite the removal of the epidermis, resistance was also expressed in cut fruit but relatively fewer conidia were produced. The cut‐fruit assay required substantially less time and half the amount of fruit to accomplish than whole‐fruit assays. Detached ripe fruit from 24 cultivars in 2008 and 26 cultivars in 2009 were screened for resistance. Results from the cut‐fruit assay correlated best with published resistance ratings. To determine the possible role of fruit characteristics in resistance, fruit pH, titratable acidity, sugar content and firmness were regressed against various fruit rot resistance measures. Fruit rot resistance was positively correlated with sugar content. On defined media, mycelial growth was restricted as sugar concentration increased and pH decreased, suggesting that fruit composition may play a role in the resistance phenotype.     

杨桃园桔小实蝇的防治适期研究

杨桃园桔小实蝇种群数量动态具有明显的规律,且与杨桃果实的成熟期密切相关。通常3月实蝇种群数量开始上升,4月～10月为发生盛期,其间出现3～4个发生高峰,11月次至年2月虫量较低。桔小实蝇对杨桃果实的成熟度具明显选择性,偏好硬度(成熟度)在89度以下的果实。单个果实中约有6个产卵孔、30头幼虫,杨桃从被害到落果时间长度一般为9d。经分析,发现产卵孔数和落果中的幼虫数量、产卵孔数与落果时间长度之间显著相关,建立了两者间关系方程。在以上研究基础上,确定了杨桃园桔小实蝇防治的一些关键时期。     

Citrus black spot intensity and yield losses on sweet orange are affected by Phyllosticta citricarpa inoculum concentration and fruit developmental stage

Citrus black spot (CBS) symptom expression on sweet oranges has been reported to be affected by the fruit developmental stage and inoculum concentration in greenhouse conditions. However, there is little information concerning the period in which the fruit is susceptible in commercial orchards. This study assessed the influence of fruit age and inoculum concentration of Phyllosticta citricarpa on CBS intensity and fruit drop in the field. Two field trials were conducted in commercial ‘Valencia’ orchards in São Paulo state, Brazil. Fruit were inoculated from October (petal fall stage) to July (c.6.5 cm diameter), with 10¹, 10³ and 10⁵ pycnidiospores/ml. CBS symptoms and fruit drop were observed in higher levels for fruit inoculated from October to February than from March to July. In both trials, when fruit were inoculated 10 times from October to July or single-inoculated in November or December, high CBS severities of 11%–22% were observed and the proportion of fruit remaining on the tree was 48%–77%; in contrast, noninoculated fruit had severity below 1.1% and 90% remained on the tree. Inoculations in November or December of green fruit with 1.5–3.0 cm diameter using 10⁵ pycnidiospores/ml were associated with higher CBS intensity and fruit drop and shorter incubation period than inoculations with lower concentrations. This work provides a better understanding of fruit stages and P. citricarpa inoculum concentrations most related to symptom expression and losses under natural conditions and may be helpful for improvement of CBS management in the São Paulo citrus belt.     

Inoculum dynamics, fruit infection, and development of brown rot in prune orchards in california

ABSTRACT Brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, is a destructive disease of stone fruit in California. Disease management requires information on inoculum dynamics and development of latent and visible fruit infections during the season to help make decisions on timing of fungicide treatments and choice of cultural practices. In this study, the daily spore concentration (ascospores and conidia) of M. fructicola in the air was monitored with spore traps in two prune orchards during the growing seasons in 2001 and 2002. The spore concentrations were low to moderate at early bloom, increased at full bloom, and decreased to the lowest level at the end of bloom. Improper timing of fruit thinning and irrigation in midseason increased spore concentration in the air and fruit infections late in the season. Artificial fruit inoculations were conducted periodically in 10 prune orchards in 2002 and 2004, and incidence of fruit rot at different inoculation dates was assessed. Fruit rot development rate increased linearly with inoculation date during the growing season. Natural blossom and fruit infections were monitored periodically in 10 prune orchards, and incidence of latent fruit infection was determined by using the overnight freezing-incubation technique. Incidence of fruit rot also was assessed 2 weeks before harvest in these orchards. The incidence of latent fruit infection at the pit hardening stage significantly correlated with that at the late stages and with the incidence of fruit rot at harvest.     

采前灌溉对骏枣落果、裂果及果实品质的影响

以8年生骏枣为材料,采用间隔灌水处理法,研究采前(8月1日至9月9日)不同灌溉次数对骏枣落果率、裂果率、叶片相对含水量及果实品质等指标的影响。结果表明:骏枣叶片相对含水量随着土壤含水量的增加而上升,T3(灌水5次)处理叶片相对含水量比CK高17.64%;随着灌水次数的增多,骏枣采前落果率和裂果率均显著下降,其中T3处理的采前落果率和裂果率分别为7.697%±0.724%、12.393%±0.290%,分别较CK低5.977%、9.987%;灌水次数的增多会导致果实中可溶性糖、可滴定酸、Ca和Zn含量减少,同时会促使其可溶性蛋白、糖酸比、黄酮、N、K、Mn、Fe和Cu含量显著提高,对P和Mg含量影响均不显著。增加采前灌水次数能够明显降低骏枣采前落果率和裂果率,灌水5次处理的效果较为显著。     

Enhancement of Postharvest Disease Resistance in Ya Li Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) Fruit by Salicylic Acid Sprays on the Trees during Fruit Growth

The Ya Li pear (Pyrus bretschneideri) trees were sprayed three times with 2.5 mM salicylic acid (SA) around 30, 60 and 90 days after full flowering. The fruit were harvested at commercial maturity (about 120 days after full flowering), inoculated with Penicillium expansum, and incubated at 20 °C, 95–100% RH. The results showed that resistance to the pathogen of the mature pear fruit was remarkably enhanced by the SA sprays. Disease incidence in the SA-treated fruit was 58.0% or 26.5%, and lesion diameter on SA-treated fruit was 58.4% or 29.0% lower than that in/on fruit without SA treatment (control) on day 12 or 17 after incubation, respectively. The SA spray applied to the trees around 30 days after full flowering notably enhanced accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in the young fruit. Meanwhile, activities of defense enzymes, including peroxidase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chitinase or β-1,3-glucanase in the young fruit from SA-treated trees was 29.5%, 60.0%, 24.4% or 35.7% higher than that in the control fruit 4 days after the SA spraying. Furthermore, after harvest, activities of PAL, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase were still significantly higher in the mature pear fruit from the trees sprayed three times with SA than those of the control fruit. Activities of the antioxidant enzymes including catalase and ascorbate peroxidase in the young fruit were significantly reduced by SA spraying. However, the activity of another antioxidant enzyme, glutathione reductase in the young fruit was significantly enhanced by SA spraying. These results suggest that enzymes exerting their functions in different ways may be coordinately regulated by SA in the pear fruit. Our study indicates that treatment of SA sprays on the trees may provide further protection against postharvest disease of Ya Li pear fruit in practice and could be used as an alternative and economical approach to reduce application of chemical fungicides.     

Infection of apple fruit by Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens in the orchard in relation to Sphaeropsis rot in storage

Sphaeropsis rot, caused by Sphaeropsis pyriputrescens, is an important postharvest disease of apple in the United States. The objectives of this study were to determine the timing of apple fruit infection in the orchard in relation to development of Sphaeropsis rot in storage and to identify infection courts and mode of penetration by S. pyriputrescens on apple fruit. Fruit of apple cvs Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Fuji were inoculated in the orchard from 3 weeks after petal fall to 2 weeks before harvest at 5 to 6-week intervals in three consecutive seasons. All fruit were harvested and stored at 0?ºC to monitor decay development. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the infection courts and mode of penetration of the fungus on/in the host tissues. At harvest, the fungus was re-isolated from the stem (pedicel), sepal, anther, or filament of the inoculated fruit, but decay did not develop on fruit. Sphaeropsis rot developed on inoculated fruit during cold storage beginning 1–3 months after harvest. Stem-end rot was prevalent on cv. Golden Delicious, whereas calyx-end rot was prevalent on cv. Fuji. Both stem- and calyx-end rots were common on cv. Red Delicious. Infection also occurred at lenticels on fruit skin, particularly on cv. Golden Delicious, but at low incidence. Relationships between the incidence of Sphaeropsis rot in stored apple fruit and the timing of inoculation in the orchard varied with cultivar and year. On cv. Red Delicious apples, the incidence of Sphaeropsis rot generally increased as the timing of infection approached harvest. Histological studies indicated that infection took place through natural openings of plant organs such as stomata on stems and sepals and lenticels on fruit skin. Fungal penetration also was observed at micro-cracks on the stem and sepal and at trichome sockets where mechanical damage occurred in sepals. Direct penetration was observed on the stem and sepal of fruit, but most invasions were restricted between the cuticle and the epidermis. Our results indicate that wounding is not required for infection of apple fruit by S. pyriputrescens, though it may facilitate infections.     

The biological characteristics of dicarboximide-resistant isolates of Monilinia fructicola from New Zealand stone-fruit orchards

Dicarboximide-resistant isolates of Monilinia fructicola were detected in New Zealand stone fruit orchards in 1985. The EC₅₀ values of resistant isolates ranged from 3 to 217 mg a.i./l iprodione, compared with 0-3 to 0-7 mg a.i./l for sensitive isolates. The degree of dicarboximide resistance was maintained over nine generations in fruit tissues in most isolates, but in four isolates there was a significant decline. Three resistant and two sensitive isolates were selected for further study on agar and host tissues. Resistant isolates caused disease, grew and sporulated as well as sensitive isolates on flowers not amended with dicarboximide fungicides, but some were less fit on fruit. The pathogenicity and spore production of a resistant strain on flowers was reduced significantly by dicarboximide applied prior to pathogen inoculation. Fitness of isolates on flowers and on fruit was poorly correlated. Resistant isolates were significantly less competitive than sensitive isolates when mixed inocula were applied to flowers and fruit. The relative performance on flowers and fruit was not a reliable indicator of competitive ability.     

Treatment of citrus fruit with sodium o-phenylphenate foam

The treatment conditions for reducing the incidence of rot in stored citrus fruit with sodium o-phenylphenate (SOPP) foam and the possibility of improving the efficiency of the treatment were examined. Marked differences were noted among different packing houses with regard to ambient temperature temperature of the fruit surface, duration of treatment, SOPP content and pH of the solution, quantities of foam and of SOPP dispersed on the fruit, and between the o-phenylphenol (OPP) residues in fruit treated simultaneously. It should be possible to prolong the duration of treatment without increasing the OPP residues in the fruit above the tolerance limits of 10 ppm OPP in the whole fruit and without causing injury to the fruit.     

Effects of fruit maturity and wetness on the infection of apple fruit by Neonectria galligena

Neonectria galligena can cause European canker of apple as well as fruit rot. Healthy unwounded fruits on potted trees of cvs Cox, Bramley and Gala were inoculated with conidia of N. galligena to investigate the effects of wetness duration and fruit maturity on rot development. Overall, the incidence of fruit rot was influenced more by fruit maturity at the time of inoculation than by duration of wetness (6–48 h). Young fruit were most susceptible to infection, with 50% of fruit infected when inoculated up to 4 weeks after full bloom. The susceptibility decreased initially until c. 2 months after full bloom and then increased gradually until harvest. Almost all preharvest symptoms (eye rot) developed only on the fruit inoculated up to 4 weeks after full bloom. All other rots were observed after six‐month postharvest storage under controlled atmospheric conditions. However, the relative proportion of preharvest eye rots and postharvest storage rots varied greatly among three years. The effect of wetness duration was only significant for fruit inoculated in their early stages of development but not for those inoculated near harvest. Regression models were developed to describe the observed effects of fruit maturity and wetness on the incidence of total nectria rots.     

河北省苹果果实黑点病的症状与病原研究初报

为明确河北省苹果果实黑点病的症状类型及其对应的病原菌,本研究对河北省6个市的果园进行了病害调查和样品采集,并对引起不同症状类型的病果进行了病原菌的分离和鉴定.结果表明,河北省的套袋苹果黑点病可以分为四大类型,分别是萼洼黑点型、果面黑点型、果面晕斑型和梗洼褐斑型.除了果面晕斑型为单一病原侵染之外,其他类型的病斑均分离获得...     

Allelochemical resistance traits of muskmelon (Cucumis melo) against the fruit fly (Bactrocera cucurbitae) in a hot arid region of India

Host plant resistance is an important component for management of the melon fruit fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett), owing to difficulties associated with its chemical and biological control. Various biochemical traits including total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar, tannins, phenols, alkaloids, flavinoid and pH contents of fruit were studied on 11varieties/ genotypes of muskmelon, Cucumis melo L., in relation to resistance against B. cucurbitae under field conditions. Significant differences were found in tested varieties/ genotypes for fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. AHMM/BR-1, RM-50 and AHMM/BR-8 were the most resistant; MHY-5, Durgapura Madhu and Pusa Sarabati were moderately resistant; AHMM/BR-13, Pusa Madhuras and Arka Jeet were susceptible; whereas Arka Rajhans and GMM-3 were the highly susceptible varieties/ genotypes to fruit fly in both seasons, 2011 and 2012. The larval density per fruit increased with an increase in percent fruit infestation and there was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.97) between percent fruit infestation and larval density per fruit. Total sugar, reducing sugar, non-reducing sugar and pH were lowest in resistant and highest in susceptible varieties/ genotypes, whereas tannins, phenols, alkaloids and flavinoid contents were highest in resistant and lowest in susceptible varieties/ genotypes. Total alkaloid and pH contents explained 97.96% of the total variation in fruit fly infestation and 92.83% of the total variation in larval density per fruit due to alkaloids and total sugar contents.     

Further studies of the deposition and persistence of binapacryl,bupirimate and diflubenzuron on apple foliage and fruit

In an extension of previous work, deposits and residues of binapacryl, bupirimate and diflubenzuron on mature foliage and the peel of developing fruit of Worcester and Cox apple trees were monitored throughout the 1980 season following applications by mistblower sprayer. The three compounds were applied as commercial formulations in trials to compare integrated pest management with routine farm spray programmes. In contrast to previous results, all three compounds persisted on foliage until leaf-fall and were detected on the peel of harvested fruit. The mean residue of diflubenzuron on harvested Worcester fruit was 0.05 mg kg^?1 fresh weight and on harvested Cox fruit was 0.02 mg kg^?1 fresh weight. Binapacryl and bupirimate were present on harvested fruit of both cultivars. The unexpectedly long persistence of these chemicals in 1980 remains unexplained, but may be due to climatic factors.     

The epidemiology of powdery mildew on concord grapes

ABSTRACT Vitis labruscana 'Concord' is a grape cultivar widely grown in the United States for processing into juice and other grape products. Concord grapes are sporadically but sometimes severely damaged by the grape powdery mildew pathogen, Uncinula necator. Although the foliage is often reported to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, severe fruit infection occurs in some years. We observed the seasonal development of powdery mildew on leaves, rachises, and berries of unsprayed Concord grapevines. Inoculations of flower and fruit clusters revealed a brief period of berry susceptibility and a protracted period of rachis susceptibility. The rachis remained highly susceptible to infection, and the severity of rachis infection increased throughout the growing season until the rachis formed a periderm shortly before harvest. In contrast, berries were nearly immune to infection within 2 weeks after fruit set. Rachis and berry infections were detected before the disease was observed on foliage, and the incidence of rachis and berry infection often exceeded disease incidence observed on foliage until after fruit acquired substantial ontogenic resistance. Excellent control of fruit infection, and adequate control of leaf infection, was achieved by two fungicide applications targeted at the peak period of fruit susceptibility. Although Concord is thought to be moderately resistant to powdery mildew, the rachis is highly susceptible, and may be the avenue by which prebloom infections make their way onto the developing fruit. Late-season infection of the rachis neither spread to the fruit, nor did it cause fruit to drop prematurely, and may be of little economic consequence on fruit destined for processing. Although fruit of V. vinifera cultivars have been reported to remain susceptible to infection until berry sugar levels reach 8 to 15%, Concord fruit become nearly immune to infection nearly 6 weeks before this stage of development. Because powdery mildew does not become conspicuous on foliage until late summer, it is generally regarded as a late-season problem on Concord grapes, and previous management programs have reflected this belief. However, the greatest contribution to control of fruit infection is due to fungicides applied during the peak period of fruit susceptibility, from bloom until shortly after fruit set, long before the disease is observed on foliage.     

Polygalacturonase Isozymes Produced by Phomopsis cucurbitae in Relation to Postharvest Decay of Cantaloupe Fruit

ABSTRACT Production of polygalacturonase (PG), a cell wall-degrading enzyme, by Phomopsis cucurbitae (latent infection fungus) was studied in relation to different carbon sources and various stages of cantaloupe fruit development. P. cucurbitae produced multiple PG isozymes both in vitro and in vivo. The fungus produced the highest PG activity and the greatest number of isozymes on pectin compared with those produced on glucose, galactose, and sucrose. Eight P. cucurbitae PG isozymes (pIs 3.7, 4.2, 6.6, 7.0, 7.3, 7.5, 7.8, and 8.6) were detected in extract from inoculated mature fruit (40 days after anthesis) by isoelectric focusing. Isozyme bands with pIs of 4.2, 7.3, and 7.8 were the most prominent. A similar set of PG isozymes was produced by P. cucurbitae in autoclaved mature fruit tissue (mesocarp). When tissue discs taken from 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-day postanthesis fruit were inoculated with P. cucurbitae, PG activity and the number of PG isozymes extracted from the macerated fruit tissue discs increased with the degree of fruit maturity and ripening. Increases in PG activity and PG isozymes were also correlated with reactivation of latent infections and the beginning of tissue maceration. An anionic PG isozyme (pI 4.2) was only visualized on decayed 50-day-old fruit exocarp, as well as 40- and 50-day-old fruit mesocarp. The experimental results support the hypotheses that P. cucurbitae PG isozymes play an important role in fruit decay once latent infection becomes active following harvest.     

Antifungal activity, acid and sugar content in the wood apple (Limonia acidissima) and their relation to fungal development

Unripe wood apple fruit is generally free from visible fungal growth before and at harvest but a succession of fungi appears on the fruit shell, and sometimes in the pulp, during ripening. A TLC- Cladosporium bioassay of the chloroform extract taken from unripe fruit shell demonstrated three inhibition areas. Similar extracts from stem-bark and root-bark produced these three, and one additional, inhibition areas. The four compounds responsible for inhibition were identified as psoralene, xanthotoxin, 2,6-dimethoxybenzoquinone and osthenol.
Concentrations of the three antifungal compounds on unripe fruit shell increased during the first 4 days after harvest and then declined. They remained much below those required to inhibit the development of three fungi on TLC plates. Titratable acidity of the unripe fruit pulp was high but decreased by about 50% during ripening. Levels of reducing sugars were very low in the unripe fruit pulp but increased by about five times during ripening. Levels also increased in the fruit shell and its washings. The possible role of these factors in restricting fungal growth in unripe fruits is discussed.