Research PaperPhysical postharvest treatments combined with antagonistic yeast on the control of orange green mold

- Physical postharvest treatments were effective in controlling green mold on orange.
- Candida membranifaciens CMAA-1112 reduced the disease severity by inducing resistance on fruit.
- Higher efficiency on control was observed combining yeast with physical treatments.
- Physical postharvest treatments combined with yeast extend orange shelf-life.

In order to control the green mold on orange, the effect of physical postharvest treatments, using hot water brushing (HWB) and ultraviolet C irradiation (UVC), alone or in combination with antagonistic yeast (Candida membranifaciens CMAA-1112) was studied. The mechanisms involved in the biocontrol and the effects of these treatments on postharvest quality of fruit were also investigated. The results showed that HWB at 55 °C for 30 s and UVC at 2 kJ m−2 stand-alone were capable of reducing the decay progress in around 70%. C. membranifaciens was effective in reducing the disease severity, and the main mechanism of control was by inducing systemic resistance on fruit peel. The combination of physical treatments and C. membranifaciens presented an additive effect increasing the efficacy in controlling the disease, and extended the fruit shef-life. Our data suggest that the integration of physical treatments combined with C. membranifaciens could be an alternative to fungicides use in postharvest treatment for the control of the green mold on orange.