Fungal Pathogen Interactions with Fruits and Vegetables

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungi in Agriculture and Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 7413

Special Issue Editors

Department of Plant Sciences, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
Interests: fruit ripening; fruit quality; fruit–pathogen interactions; fruit cell wall dynamics; necrotrophic fungal pathogens
Department of Postharvest Science, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, HaMaccabim Road 68, P.O. Box 15159, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
Interests: fruit–fungal interaction; fruit-induced defense response; alternatives to postharvest fungicides

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fruit and vegetable infection by fungal pathogens significantly impacts fresh produce availability, quality, marketability, and safety in preharvest and postharvest scenarios. Once harvested, fresh produce undergoes an intricate journey from the field to consumers, resulting in high accumulative losses mainly due to fungal decay. Most fungal inoculation of fruits and vegetables occurs preharvest, yet those insidious fungi infections remain latent until the onset of ripening or senescence events during postharvest. The latent fungal pathogens sense these changes and switch to an aggressive necrotrophic stage, where disease symptoms appear. Studies of fungal pathogenicity and the responses of fruits and vegetables to fungal infection will provide a better understanding of the biology of their interaction and lead to applied solutions for reducing food losses.

Dr. Barbara Blanco-Ulate
Dr. Noam Alkan
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • fungal decay
  • necrotrophic fungal pathogen
  • opportunistic fungal pathogen
  • fruit–pathogen interaction
  • vegetable–pathogen interaction
  • fungal quiescency
  • latent fungi
  • fungal pathogenicity
  • postharvest diseases
  • plant susceptibility
  • plant defense responses
  • fungal disease control

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2463 KiB  
Article
Postharvest Diseases of Pomegranate: Alternative Control Means and a Spiderweb Effect
by Annamaria Mincuzzi, Ugo Picciotti, Simona Marianna Sanzani, Francesca Garganese, Lluís Palou, Rocco Addante, Marco Ragni and Antonio Ippolito
J. Fungi 2023, 9(8), 808; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9080808 - 30 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1022
Abstract
The pomegranate is a fruit known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It has recently aroused great interest in the industry and among consumers, leading to a significant increase in demand. Consequently, its cultivation has been boosted all over the world. The [...] Read more.
The pomegranate is a fruit known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It has recently aroused great interest in the industry and among consumers, leading to a significant increase in demand. Consequently, its cultivation has been boosted all over the world. The pomegranate crop suffers considerable yield losses, especially at the postharvest stage, because it is a “minor crop” with few permitted control means. To control latent (Alternaria spp., Botrytis spp., Coniella spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Cytospora spp.) and wound (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Talaromyces spp.) fungal pathogens, different alternative compounds, previously evaluated in vitro, were tested in the field on pomegranate cv. Wonderful. A chitosan solution, a plant protein hydrolysate, and a red seaweed extract were compared with a chemical control treatment, all as preharvest (field application) and postharvest treatments and their combinations. At the end of the storage period, the incidence of stamen infections and external and internal rots, and the severity of internal decay were evaluated. Obtained data revealed that pre- and postharvest application of all substances reduced the epiphytic population on stamens. Preharvest applications of seaweed extract and plant hydrolysate were the most effective treatments to reduce the severity of internal pomegranate decays. Furthermore, the influence of spider (Cheiracanthium mildei) cocoons on the fruit calyx as a possible barrier against postharvest fungal pathogens was assessed in a ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate organic orchard. Compared to no-cocoon fruit (control), the incidence of infected stamens and internal molds in those with spiderwebs was reduced by about 30%, and the mean severity of internal rots was halved. Spiderwebs analyzed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) disclosed a layered, unordered structure that did not allow for the passage of fungal spores due to its mean mesh size (1 to 20 µm ca). The aims of this research were (i) to evaluate alternative compounds useful to control postharvest pomegranate decays and (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of spiders in reducing postharvest fungal infections by analyzing related mechanisms of action. Alternative control means proposed in the present work and calyx spider colonization may be helpful to reduce postharvest pomegranate diseases, yield losses, and waste production in an integrated control strategy, satisfying organic agriculture and the planned goals of Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the United Nations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Pathogen Interactions with Fruits and Vegetables)
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18 pages, 1791 KiB  
Article
Essential Oils Reduce Grey Mould Rot of Apples and Modify the Fruit Microbiome during Postharvest Storage
by Giada Schiavon, Marco Garello, Simona Prencipe, Giovanna Roberta Meloni, Fabio Buonsenso and Davide Spadaro
J. Fungi 2023, 9(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9010022 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1917
Abstract
Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of grey mould rot of apples. The efficacy of biofumigation with thyme (Thymus vulgaris), savoury (Satureja montana), and basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oils (EOs) at 1%, 0.5%, and 0.1% concentrations were [...] Read more.
Botrytis cinerea is the causal agent of grey mould rot of apples. The efficacy of biofumigation with thyme (Thymus vulgaris), savoury (Satureja montana), and basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oils (EOs) at 1%, 0.5%, and 0.1% concentrations were tested against B. cinerea. In vitro, the results showed 100% growth inhibition at 1% concentration for all oils. Subsequent biofumigation experiments on apples of cultivar ‘Opal’ with 1% EOs showed that, after 60 d storage, thyme and savoury EOs significantly reduced grey mould rot incidence (average incidence 2% for both treatments) compared to the control (7%). Analyses of quality indicated slightly higher fruit firmness for 1% thyme at 30 d and slightly higher titratable acidity for 1% thyme and savoury at 60 d. Sampling of the atmosphere inside the cabinets was performed to characterize and quantify the volatile components of EOs released through biofumigation. Though thymol and p-cymene were the main components of thyme EO, the antimicrobial activity was mainly due to the presence of thymol and, to a lower extent, of carvacrol. In savoury EO, carvacrol and p-cymene were the main components, whereas in basil EO, linalool and estragole were mainly present. Metabarcoding analyses showed that the epiphytic microbiome had higher richness and evenness compared to their endophytic counterpart. By the end of shelf-life, treatments with thyme EO reduced B. cinerea abundance compared to the inoculated control for both endophytes (from 36.5% to 1.5%) and epiphytes (from 7.0% to 0.7%), while favouring a significant increase in Penicillium species both in endophytes (from 0.2% to 21.5%) and epiphytes (from 0.5% to 18.6%). Results indicate that thyme EO (1%) and savoury EO (1%) are equally effective in hampering grey mould rot development in vivo. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Pathogen Interactions with Fruits and Vegetables)
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18 pages, 3107 KiB  
Article
Morphology, Molecular Identification, and Pathogenicity of Two Novel Fusarium Species Associated with Postharvest Fruit Rot of Cucurbits in Northern Thailand
by Surapong Khuna, Jaturong Kumla, Tanapol Thitla, Wipornpan Nuangmek, Saisamorn Lumyong and Nakarin Suwannarach
J. Fungi 2022, 8(11), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof8111135 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3317
Abstract
Fruit rot of cucurbits caused by several pathogenic fungi has become an important postharvest disease worldwide. In 2022, fruit rot on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) was observed during the postharvest storage phase in the Chiang Mai [...] Read more.
Fruit rot of cucurbits caused by several pathogenic fungi has become an important postharvest disease worldwide. In 2022, fruit rot on watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and muskmelon (Cucumis melo) was observed during the postharvest storage phase in the Chiang Mai and Phitsanulok Provinces of northern Thailand. These diseases can lead to significant economic losses. This present study was conducted to isolate the causal agent of fungi in lesions of fruit rot. A total of four fungal isolates were obtained, of which two isolates (SDBR-CMU422 and SDBR-CMU423) were obtained from rot lesions of watermelons, while the remaining isolates (SDBR-CMU424 and SDBR-CMU425) were obtained from rot lesions of muskmelons. All fungal isolates were identified using both morphological characteristics and molecular analyses. Morphologically, all isolated fungal isolates were classified into the genus Fusarium. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a combination of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef-1), calmodulin (cam), and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (rpb2) genes reveled that four fungal isolates belonged to the Fusarium incarnatumequiseti species complex and were distinct from all other known species. Thus, we have described them as two new species, namely F. citrullicola (SDBR-CMU422 and SDBR-CMU423) and F. melonis (SDBR-CMU424 and SDBR-CMU425). A full description, illustrations, and a phylogenetic tree indicating the position of both new species have been provided. Moreover, pathogenicity tests were subsequently performed and the results showed that F. citrullicola and F. melonis caused symptoms of fruit rot on inoculated watermelon and muskmelon fruits, respectively. Notably, this outcome was indicative of the symptoms that appeared during the postharvest storage phase. To our knowledge, two new pathogenic fungi, F. citrullicola and F. melonis, are new causal agents of watermelon and muskmelon fruit rot, respectively. Importantly, these findings provide valuable information for the development of effective strategies for the monitoring and prevention of these diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Pathogen Interactions with Fruits and Vegetables)
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