Antifungal activity of chitosan and its combination with the yeast Debaryomyces hansenii F9D for the control of Penicillium expansum in apples and pears stored at low temperatures

Abstract

Penicillium expansum is an important pathogen of cold-stored fruit, currently controlled by chemical fungicides. In this work chitosan combined with the biocontrol yeast Debaryomyces hansenii F9D was tested as a safer alternative for its control on cold-stored apples and pears. When medium molecular weight chitosan was applied on fruit a reduction of rot incidence of 62% and 53% was achieved in apples and pears. respectively. When chitosan was combined with the yeast, disease reduction was 76% and 90%. The combination of biological control with chitosan appears as a feasible strategy for the control of phytopathogenic fungi.

Keywords:

• Chitosan
• blue mold
• pome fruit
• biological control
• yeast
• postharvest storage

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Commission for Scientific Research (Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica, CSIC-Uruguay), PEDECIBA and CYTED.