Integrating biological control and calcium treatment for controlling postharvest decay of apples
1998
Janisiewicz, W.J. | Conway, W.S. | Glenn, D.M. | Sams, C.E.
Two nonfungicidal postharvest treatments and N fertility were evaluated for their effectiveness, singly and in combination, in controlling decay ("blue mold") of apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) by Penicillium expansum Link. The antifungal treatments were biological control using the antagonist Pseudomonas syringae van Hall (isolate ESC-11 used in BioSave-11 and BioSave-110 products), and pressure infiltration of fruit with 0.27 M CaCl2. Fruit susceptibility to decay was evaluated using fruit after 3 and 6 months of storage over 2 years. Calcium infiltration resulted in a 3-fold increase in Ca content of apple mesocarp. Both antagonist and Ca treatments reduced the severity and incidence of blue mold decay on 'Delicious' apples. Combining these treatments resulted in greater control than the individual treatments alone. The effects were most apparent on fruit stored 6 months at 1 degree C. High N fertilization increased decay in only 1 of 2 years of the study. Antagonist recovery data suggest that the antagonist could be applied immediately after Ca treatment. Combining a biocontrol agent with Ca infiltration may allow reduced rates of both products to be used without compromising the control of blue mold. This practice will increase the performance margin for biocontrol with the added benefit of increased Ca to alleviate physiological storage maladies.
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