Control of blue mold (Penicillium expansum) by fludioxonil in apples (cv Empire) under controlled atmosphere and cold storage conditions

Abstract

A reduced risk fungicide, fludioxonil, was tested for its efficacy against blue mold caused by thiabendazole-resistant and -sensitive Penicillium expansum (Link) Thom in apples under three storage conditions. In a co-treatment, fludioxonil and inoculum were applied together to test the protective activity of the fungicide on wounds that had been aged for 1 or 2 days. The fungicide was also tested for its curative activity in post-inoculation treatment on apples that had been inoculated for 1 or 2 days. Fludioxonil was very effective as co-treatment and as post-inoculation treatment. At a concentration of 300 mg litre(-1), fludioxonil gave complete control of post-harvest blue mold caused by the thiabendazole-resistant and -sensitive P expansum for 105 days in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage at 2 (+/-1) degrees C, for 42 days in common cold storage at 4 (+/-1) degrees C and also in a shelf-life study for 6 days at 20 (+/-1) degrees C. Comparison on the effect of fludioxonil in CA storage and common cold storage showed that higher concentrations of fungicide were needed in cold storage than in CA storage. Fludioxonil at a concentration of 450 mg litre(-1), gave 98 and 92% control of blue mold of apples in the simulated shelf-life studies after CA and common cold storages, respectively. Fludioxonil has a potential to be incorporated in the fungicide resistance management strategies for control of blue mold in apples stored for 105 days.

Patulin accumulation in apples during postharvest: Effect of controlled atmosphere storage and fungicide treatments

“…Because of extensive use of most common fungicides (i.e. thiabendazole), P. expansum has become resistant to them and thus they have become ineVective (Errampalli et al, 2005). We observed that after CA cold storage, fungicide treatment was only eVective in ripe apples and that after further storage at 20°C; lesion diameter was only signiWcantly bigger for ripe untreated apples.…”

“…Following harvest and before CA storage, a post-harvest drench application of thiabendazole has been used to control storage rots of apples (Errampalli, Northover, Skog, Brubacher, & Collucci, 2005).…”

Influence of post-harvest technologies applied during cold storage of apples in Penicillium expansum growth and patulin accumulation: A review

“…The phenylpyrroles are derived from the antibiotic pyrrolnitrin, which is produced by many Pseudomonas sp. Errampalli, Northover, Skog, Brubacher, and Collucci (2005) showed that fludioxonil controlled blue mould caused by thiabendazole-resistant P. expansum under three different storage conditions (20°C, 4°C and 1°C). However, Iacomi-Vasilescu et al (2004) reported field resistance to fludioxonil in Alternaria spp.…”

The fate of patulin in apple juice processing: A review

“…This study confirms the additive effect of applying fungicides with that of storage under refrigeration and controlled atmosphere. Errampali (2004) & Errampali et al (2005 used the fungicide fludioxinil both as a preventative treatment and in the treatment of apples already infected with P. expansum. According to Neri et al (2006), vapours of trans-2-hexenal (an aroma component of many fruits and vegetables), with a concentration of 12.5 lgL/L showed a potential for the control of blue rot, the PAT content and apple quality in Golden Delicious apples.…”