Annibale Folchi

Postharvest biological control of grey mould (Botrytis cinerea Pers.: Fr.) on fresh-market tomatoes with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Abstract Antagonistic bacteria were evaluated for their effectiveness in postharvest control of grey mould on fresh-market tomatoes. Grey mould was reduced in fresh-market tomatoes treated with antagonists and artificially inoculated with Botrytis cinerea , and stored at 20 °C for at least 7 days. One strain, 5PVB ( Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ) was particularly effective. This strain apparently did not produce extracellular antibiotic substances, yet was highly active against the pathogen on both mature-green and red tomatoes. Treatment with 5PVB before storage at 10 °C showed only fungistatic activity against grey mould. Chilling-injured mature-green tomatoes were more susceptible to B. cinerea . On chilled fruits the bacterial antagonist completely controlled the pathogen if the treatment was applied immediately after storage at 2 °C. In fermentation tests on four industrial waste materials, B. amyloliquefaciens grew well and maintained its antagonistic activity when grown in two of them. In pilot experiments with wounded fruits dipped in the bacterial cell and pathogen suspension, the development of decay was effectively inhibited.

Preliminary studies on the efficiency of endophytes in the biological control of the postharvest pathogens Monilinia laxa and Rhizopus stolonifer in stone fruit

Endophytic bacteria were tested in the postharvest biocontrol of Monilinia laxa and Rhizopus stolonifer in stone fruits. Of a total of 122 strains of these sub-epidermis micro-organisms isolated from various horticultural sources (cucumber, eggplant, pepper, tomato, zucchini, apricot, peach and plum), approximately twenty showed greater than 90% control of the given pathogens. R. stolonifer appeared to be less susceptible than M. laxa to the endophytes. The influence of conidial concentration of M. laxa and of antagonist/pathogen contact time on the effectiveness of biocontrol were also evaluated.

Physio-pathological responses of cabbage stored under controlled atmospheres

Abstract The response of cabbage to controlled atmospheres (CA) of 1–3% O2 and 1–10% CO2; 3% O2 and 5% CO2 was studied in relation to the incidence of physiological and pathological disorders. Fungal infections, pepper spot, low oxygen injury, weight loss, colour, odour, flavour and ethanol were evaluated. The findings show that CA did not reduce Botrytis cinerea rot in comparison to low temperature storage in air. PVC film and CA, on the other hand, reduced pepper spot by over 50% with respect to the air control. In particular, pepper spot was eliminated by high CO2 (10%) levels. Low O2 (1% O2 and 1% CO2) atmospheres caused 33 and 50% injury respectively after 89 and 109 days of storage. CA and PVC film reduced weight loss to 1%, as compared with 11% in the heads in air, which had shrivelled. The combination of 3% O 2 5% CO 2 and PVC film delayed yellowing with respect to air control. Concentrations of 1–3% O2 and 10% CO2 resulted in off odours and flavours after 74 days of storage. This result was confirmed by a considerable increase in ethanol concentrations. The most effective concentration tested was 3%O 2 5%CO 2 although, in general, infection by B. cinerea limited the storage life.