Effect of chitin on the antagonistic activity of Rhodosporidium paludigenum against Penicillium expansum in apple fruit

• Efficacy of R. paludigenum from chitin-added media against P. expansum was enhanced.
• R. paludigenum from chitin-added media proliferated faster in apple wounds.
• R. paludigenum from chitin-added media enhanced the resistance in apple fruit.
• SOD and CAT activities of R. paludigenum from chitin-added media were stimulated.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of chitin on the antagonistic activity of Rhodosporidium paludigenum against Penicillium expansum, the cause of blue mold in apple fruit, and the possible mechanisms involved. Our results showed that biocontrol efficacy and population growth of R. paludigenum were greatly enhanced when it was harvested from nutrient yeast dextrose with added chitin (NYCB) medium compared with that harvested from nutrient yeast dextrose (NYDB) medium. The ability of R. paludigenum produced in NYCB to induce resistance to blue mold in apple fruit was significantly enhanced. The enhanced disease control efficacy was correlated with higher levels of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in apple fruit treated with R. paludigenum. Moreover, the SOD and catalase (CAT) activities of R. paludigenum were stimulated by cultivating in NYCB, while malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in the yeast cells was suppressed. These results indicated that adding chitin to normal media might be an effective method to improve the antagonistic activity of R. paludigenum and the active oxygen metabolism of R. paludigenum might be closely related to the biocontrol activity of the yeast.

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