Session 5. Biological control of stored product pests

DALBELLO, G.; LAMPUGNANI GLADYS; ABRAMOFF,CECILIA; FUSSÉ, C; PERELLO, ANALIA EDITH

IOBC_WPRS Bulletin Integrated Protection of Stored Products.

IOBC_WPRS

Lugar: Zagreb; Año: 2015; p. 417 - 425

Abstract: The fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea causes severe rots on tomato fruit during storage andshelf life. Continuous use of synthetic fungicides has produced an increasing public concern regardingcontamination of edible crops with toxic residues, and proliferation of resistance in the pathogenpopulations. These facts have led to a search for new alternative control measures in a more ecologicalway. This study evaluates efficacy of biocontrol agents (Trichoderma harzianum and Epicoccumnigrum), botanicals (Lippia alba and garlic extracts) and low-risk chemicals such as salicylic acid(SA), sodium bicarbonate (SB), potassium chloride (PC) and sodium phosphate dibasic (SP) againstgray mold caused by B. cinerea on postharvest tomato fruits. The fruits were obtained inpackinghouse, being washed and disinfected with sodium hypochlorite. Artificially wounded fruitswere treated sequentially with each bio-agent and the pathogen. After 1 week of incubation in plastictrays, the soft rot lesion diameters were evaluated. Results obtained have demonstrated that thetreatment with T. harzianum, E. nigrum, PC, SP and garlic extract reduced significantly the gray moldinfections from 95 up to 99% compared to the control treated with B. cinerea alone. These findingsindicate that these environmentally friendly agents have the potential to control postharvest graymould on tomato fruits in an integrated pest management strategy.