Biocontrol activity and putative mechanism of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (SF14 and SP10), Alcaligenes faecalis ACBC1, and Pantoea agglomerans ACBP1 against brown rot disease of fruit

This study aimed at evaluating the antagonistic activity of 16 bacterial strains for the control of brown rot disease caused by Monilinia fructigena, and M. laxa under in vitro and a semi-commercial large-scale trial. These bacterial antagonists' belonging to the genera Alcaligenes, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Pantoea, Pseudomonas, and Serratia were previously proven effective for control of fire blight of apple. The in vitro dual culture bioassay showed the highest inhibition rates of mycelial growth ranging from 55 to 95% and from 43 to 94% for M. fructigena and M. laxa, respectively. The in vivo bioassay showed moderate and strong inhibition for M. fructigena and M. laxa, respectively. The inhibition rates were dependent on incubation time as well as pathogen virulence. The free-cell bacterial filtrate revealed substantial mycelial growth inhibition ranging from 66 to 86%. The inhibition of conidial germination was from 32 to 78%, suggesting the involvement of metabolites in their biocontrol activity. The antifungal effect of the volatile compounds (VCOs) was observed for all bacteria with mycelial inhibition varying from 12 to 70%. Overall, their efficacy was substantially affected by the nature of the bacterial strains and the modes of action. Taken together, these results underscore that ACBC1 and SF14 for M. fructigena and SP10 and ACBP1 for M. laxa were the most effective bacterial strains. These strains were confirmed effective in a semi-commercial large-scale trial. Interestingly, their efficacies were found to be comparable to those of both commercial BCAs (B. subtilis Y1336 and P. agglomerans P10c), but slightly lower than thiophanate-methyl fungicide. The ability of most bacterial strains to produce lytic enzymes (Amylase, Protease or Cellulase) and lipopeptides (bacillomycin, fengycin, iturin and surfactin) was demonstrated by biochemical and molecular analyzes. Therefore, our findings suggest that the bacterial antagonists ACBC1, SF14, SP10 and ACBP1, have the potential to prevent brown rot disease.

Growth and aggressiveness factors affecting Monilinia spp. survival peaches

Brown rot of stone fruit is caused by three species of Monilinia, Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena, and M. fructicola. Eleven components of 20 different isolates of each of the three Monilinia species were analysed to determine distinct aggressiveness and growth characteristics among the three fungi. M. fructicola showed the greatest lesion diameter, and the lowest incubation and latency period on fruit postharvest, however isolates of M. fructigena exhibited less aggressiveness components. Five growth characteristics of M. fructicola could be used to distinguish M. fructicola from the other two species. The dendrogram generated from only the presence of sclerotia and lesion length on infected fruit separated the 60 isolates into two clusters (r=0.93). One cluster was composed of the M. laxa and M. fructigena isolates and the other cluster comprised the M. fructicola isolates. However, the dendrogram generated based on the presence of stromata and sclerotia in the same colony of the three species when they were grown on potato dextrose agar, and the lesion diameter on fruit infected with each species separated the 60 isolates into three clusters (r=0.81). Each cluster comprised the isolates of each of three Monilinia spp. We discussed the effect of M. fructicola growth and aggressiveness differences on the displacement of M. laxa and M. fructigena by M. fructicola recorded in Spanish peach orchards and their effect on brown rot at postharvest.

Growth and aggressiveness factors affecting Monilinia spp. survival peaches

Brown rot of stone fruit is caused by three species of Monilinia, Monilinia laxa, M. fructigena, and M. fructicola. Eleven components of 20 different isolates of each of the three Monilinia species were analyzed to determine distinct aggressiveness and growth characteristics among the three fungi. M. fructicola showed the greatest lesion diameter, and the lowest incubation and latency period on fruit postharvest, however isolates of M. fructigena exhibited less aggressiveness components. Five growth characteristics of M. fructicola could be used to distinguish M. fructicola from the other two species. The dendrogram generated from only the presence of sclerotia and lesion length on infected fruit separated the 60 isolates into two clusters (r=0.93). One cluster was composed of the M. laxa and M. fructigena isolates and the other cluster comprised the M. fructicola isolates. However, the dendrogram generated based on the presence of stromata and sclerotia in the same colony of the three species when they were grown on potato dextrose agar, and the lesion diameter on fruit infected with each species separated the 60 isolates into three clusters (r=0.81). Each cluster comprised the isolates of each of three Monilinia spp. We discussed the effect of M. fructicola growth and aggressiveness differences on the displacement of M. laxa and M. fructigena by M. fructicola recorded in Spanish peach orchards and their effect on brown rot at postharvest.