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Postharvest Disease Management of ‘Akizuki’ Pear in China: Identification of Fungal Pathogens and Control Efficacy of Chlorine Dioxide

Summary

Researchers identified four types of fungi that cause rot in ‘Akizuki’ pears during storage: Alternaria alternata, Diaporthe eres, and two types of Penicillium. They tested chlorine dioxide gas as a treatment and found it effectively stopped the fungi from growing without harming the fruit. This discovery offers a safer, more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fungicide chemicals for keeping stored pears fresh longer.

Background

The ‘Akizuki’ pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) is an increasingly popular fruit in China with significant commercial value, but it suffers from severe rot diseases during postharvest storage. Fungal pathogens causing these postharvest decay diseases have not been thoroughly characterized. Understanding the etiology and developing effective control methods is critical for preserving fruit quality and extending shelf life.

Objective

This study aimed to identify fungal pathogens causing postharvest decay in ‘Akizuki’ pears through multi-gene phylogenetic analysis and to assess the antifungal efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO2) against the identified pathogens. The research sought to provide a basis for effective and eco-friendly postharvest disease management strategies.

Results

Eighteen fungal strains were identified as Alternaria alternata (11 strains), Diaporthe eres (3 strains), Penicillium citrinum (1 strain), and Penicillium expansum (3 strains). ClO2 significantly inhibited all three major pathogens with EC50 values of 24.71 mg/L for A. alternata, 35.56 mg/L for D. eres, and 41.98 mg/L for P. expansum. At 45 mg/L, ClO2 fumigation reduced disease incidence by 34-73% in pear fruits, with efficacy comparable to conventional fungicides.

Conclusion

This is the first systematic identification of postharvest pathogens in ‘Akizuki’ pears, revealing D. eres, A. alternata, and P. expansum as key causal agents. Gaseous ClO2 fumigation proves to be an effective and eco-friendly alternative to conventional fungicides, disrupting pathogen cell membrane integrity and hyphal morphology. These findings establish ClO2 as a promising strategy for controlling postharvest diseases in pear storage.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: PMID: 41149884, DOI: 10.3390/jof11100694
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