Brown Rot Strikes Prunus Fruit: An Ancient Fight Almost Always Lost

Abstract

Brown rot (BR) caused by Monilinia spp., has been an economic problem for the stone fruit market due to dramatic losses, mainly during the postharvest period. There is much literature about basic aspects of Monilinia spp. infection, which indicates that environment significantly influences its occurrence in the orchard. However, progress is needed to sustainably limit this disease: the pathogen is able to develop resistance to pesticides, and most of BR resistance research programs in plant models perish. Solving this problem becomes important due to the need to decrease chemical treatments and reduce residues on fruit. Thus, research has recently increased, exploring a wide range of disease control strategies (e.g., genetic, chemical, physical). Summarizing this information is difficult, as studies evaluate different Monilinia and Prunus model species, with diverse strategies and protocols. Thus, the purpose of this review is to present the diversity and distribution of agents causing BR, focusing on the biochemical mechanisms of Monilinia spp. infection both of the fungi and of the fruit, and report on the resistance sources in Prunus germplasm. This review comprehensively compiles the information currently available to better understand mechanisms related to BR resistance.

Peach Brown Rot: Still in Search of an Ideal Management Option

“…Incidentally, the optimum peach commodity production is hindered by the brown rot epidemic, with significant economic consequences [40]. In recent times, orchards have been abandoned before harvest because of the severity of this disease [4].…”

“…(position in classification: Sclerotiniaceae, Helotiales, Leotiomycetidae, Leotiomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota) [42]. The species of Monilinia are among the major causal organisms of brown rot disease in various orchard tree crops including: (a) Stone fruits [4,40,41,43,44], such as apricots [45,46], peaches [5,8,47,48], nectarines [48], cherries [49], and plums [45]; (b) Almonds [50] occasionally; and (c) Some pome fruits [51,52], such as pears [51], apples [53], and quinces [54].…”

“…The occurrence and distribution of the species of Monilinia, (Figure 4) are global, having been detected in virtually all the continents of the world [4,40] where potential hosts are cultivated. Their presence is established especially when peach fruits are moved (imported) from one country of origin to another [4].…”

“…van Leeuwen), M. yunnanensis (M.J. Hu and C.X. Luo), and M. mumecola (Y. Harada, Y. Sasaki, and T. Sano) [40,59,60].…”

The Crop Load Affects Brown Rot Progression in Fruit Orchards: High Fruit Densities Facilitate Fruit Exposure to Spores but Reduce the Infection Rate by Decreasing Fruit Growth and Cuticle Cracking

“…is one of the main diseases in stone fruits. It affects peach (Prunus persica) trees all around the world (Oliveira et al, 2016) and it is responsible of fruit rotting, and consequent crop losses, during the pre and post-harvest period (Lichou et al, 2003;Larena et al, 2005;Bussi et al, 2015). The control of brown rot is fundamental to preserve peach production and it is usually based on the use of chemicals with negative consequences on the environment and possibly on the human health (Larena et al, 2005).…”