Postharvest Biological Control of Blue Mold on Apples

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Abstract
Blue mold, a major postharvest disease of apples caused by Penicillium expansum was controlled with an antagonistic bacterium (L-22-64) and a yeast (F-43-31). Potential antagonists were isolated from apple plants throughout the year and from stored fruit. Golden Delicious apples from wound-inoculated with varying concentrations of antagonists and P. expansum. Lesion development was related to pathogen spore concentration and the concentration of the antagonist. The highest spore concentration of the pathogen (1 .times. 107 spores per milliliter) was totally controlled by higher concentrations of the antagonist. This protection was ongoing because subsequent reinoculation of wounds did not result in lesion development.