MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

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

Summary

‘Akizuki’ pears are a popular fruit in China but often develop rot diseases during storage, causing significant economic losses. Researchers identified four types of fungi responsible for this rot and tested chlorine dioxide gas as a treatment. The study found that chlorine dioxide effectively kills these fungi by damaging their cell membranes and works as well as commercial fungicides, offering a safer alternative for preserving pears without harmful chemical residues.

Background

‘Akizuki’ pear is an increasingly popular mid-to-late maturing sand pear variety in China, but it suffers from severe rot diseases during postharvest storage. Postharvest diseases of pears in China cause approximately 8% annual yield loss with economic losses exceeding USD 1.5 billion. Conventional fungicide application raises concerns about environmental pollution, food safety, and drug resistance development.

Objective

To identify fungal pathogens causing postharvest decay of ‘Akizuki’ pears through multi-gene phylogenetic analysis and assess the antifungal efficacy of chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) at varying concentrations. The study aimed to clarify the occurrence and control of postharvest decay diseases and provide options for practical postharvest disease control.

Results

Isolates were identified as Alternaria alternata (11 strains), Diaporthe eres (3 strains), Penicillium expansum (3 strains), and Penicillium citrinum (1 strain). ClO₂ significantly inhibited pathogen development 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, showing antifungal activity comparable to conventional fungicides. ClO₂ fumigation reduced disease incidence in pear fruits by 34-73%.

Conclusion

This study presents the first systematic identification of pathogenic fungi causing postharvest decay in ‘Akizuki’ pears. Gaseous ClO₂ fumigation demonstrated potent antifungal activity through disruption of hyphal morphology and cell membrane integrity, establishing it as a promising, effective, and eco-friendly strategy for controlling postharvest diseases in ‘Akizuki’ pears comparable to conventional fungicides.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41149884, DOI: 10.3390/jof11100694
Scroll to Top