Plant husbandry – Process
Patent
1993-11-22
1996-06-11
Robinson, Douglas W.
Plant husbandry
Process
4352551, 424 933, 424 9351, 426656, 504117, A01C 100, A01N 6304
Patent
active
055251323
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment/prevention of microbial diseases of fruit utilising specific yeast species strains. The invention also relates to biologically pure cultures of certain yeast strains and combinations thereof which are capable of treating/preventing microbial diseases of fruit.
Worldwide, post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables have been estimated to be up to 50 percent of harvested crop and much of this is due to microbial diseases such as rots. In the USA, where more attention has been directed towards the post-harvest problem, losses of fruits and vegetables due to post-harvest spoilage still amount to about 24%. Pre-harvest losses of fruits and vegetables are also significant.
Fungicides, which are the principal means of controlling post-harvest rots and other microbial diseases, have recently come under security by health authorities in may countries in view of the potential effect of residues on consumers. According to a US National Science Academy Report (1987), as a class, fungicides account for 60% of the oncogenic risk among all the pesticides used for food produce. Furthermore, the US Environmental Protection Authority has recently proposed a ban on the use of ethylene bis-dithiocarbamates (EBDCs) on food crops. About one-third of all fruit and vegetables in the USA are treated with EBDCs. Benomyl, a fungicide widely used to protect apples and pears from attack by blue and grey mould, was also discontinued for post-harvest use in 1989.
Contamination of the environment by fungicides and risks to the health of farmers are other causes for concern.
A number of organisms are associated with microbial diseases of fruit.
At least 11 species of Penicillium have been isolated from pome fruits naturally infected with blue mould but P. expansum is by far the most common and economically important species. Blue mould, also known as soft rot and wet rot, is the most important post-harvest disease of apples and is also important on pears.
Grey mould is the most important post-harvest disease of pears and is second to blue mould in importance on apples. It is caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea Pers. Also known as cluster rot or nest rot, grey mould can cause large losses because of its ability to spread from infected to adjacent healthy fruit during storage. The disease develops more rapidly at cold storage temperature than any other post-harvest decay except Mucor rot.
Mucor rot is caused primarily by Mucor piriformis E. Fischer. Mucor rot occurs less consistently than blue mould and grey mould, although in special situations it can cause several losses of apples and pears.
All of these rots are worldwide in occurrence, and affect many types of fruit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The traditional method of control of these rots and other microbial diseases is to treat fruit after harvest and before storage with fungicides as discussed above. Benzimidazole and dicarboximide fungicides applied as post-harvest dips, drenches or line sprays are effective against both blue and grey mould. However, fungicide-tolerant strains which are present in most packing-houses, reduce their effectiveness and additional fungicides, e.g., imazalil, have to be used in combination to improve control. This, together with the need for reduced chemical usage on food crops has created a need to develop other methods of controlling post-harvest diseases.
In 1987, Janisiewicz demonstrated that blue mould on apples can be controlled with an antagonistic bacterium and a yeast and in 1988 also reported that two antagonistic microorganisms, viz Acremonium breve and a Pseudomonas sp., when tested as mixtures on wounded apples inhibited the development of lesions caused by P. expansum and B. cinerea (Janisiewicz 1987; Janisiewicz 1988). In 1988, Wisniewski et al. demonstrated the effectiveness of yeast, Debaryomyces hansenii to control post-harvest decay of apples caused by B. cinerea and, in 1990 Chalutz and Wilson reported that D. hansenii was able to inh
REFERENCES:
patent: 5041384 (1991-08-01), Wilson et al.
Janisiewicz (1986) "Biocontrol of Two Postharvest Diseases of Apples with a Yeast" (Abstr.) Phytopathology, 76:1133.
Janisiewicz (1987) "Postharvest Biological Control of Blue Mold on Apples" Postharvest Pathology and Mycotoxins, 77:481-485.
Janisiewicz (1988) "Biocontrol of Postharvest Diseases of Apples with Antagonist Mixtures" Phytopathology, 78:194-198.
Chalutz et al. (1990) "Postharvest Biocontrol of Green and Blue Mold and Sour Rot of Citrus Fruit by Debaryomyces hansenii", Plant Disease, 74:134-137.
Pusey et al. (1984) "Postharvest Biological Control of Stone Fruit Brown Rot by Bacillus subtillis", Plant Disease, 68:753-756.
Tronsmo et al. (1980) "Biological Control of Rotrytis cinerea on Apple" Plant Disease, 64:1009.
Wilson et al. (1985) "Potential for Biological Control of Postharvest Plant Diseases", Plant Disease, 69:375-377.
Schaffer et al. (1988) "Development of the protective layer in Golden Delicious apples, `Loring` peach and willow", Am. J. Bot. (Abstr.) 75:45-46.
745,796 Aug. 16, 1991 Wilson et al. Not an issued U.S. Patent document U.S. Agric. Res. Service.
Daratech Proprietary Limited
McElwain Elizabeth F.
Robinson Douglas W.
LandOfFree
Yeasts as a biocontrol for microbial diseases of fruit does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Yeasts as a biocontrol for microbial diseases of fruit, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Yeasts as a biocontrol for microbial diseases of fruit will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-349671