Biological control of postharvest diseases of peach with Cryptococcus laurentii

Cryptococcus laurentii was evaluated for its activity in reducing postharvest gray mold decay, blue mold decay and Rhizopus decay of peach caused by Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum and Rhizopus stolonifer respectively, and in reducing natural decay development of peach fruits. The concentrations of antagonist had significant effects on biocontrol effectiveness: the higher the concentrations of the antagonist, the lower the disease incidence. At concentrations of C. laurentii at 1 × 109 CFU ml−1, the gray mold decay was completely inhibited after 4 days incubation at 25 °C, while the control fruit had 50% decay, when inoculated with B. cinerea spores suspension of 1 × 105 spores ml−1; no complete control of the blue mold or Rhizopus mold was observed, when peach fruits were stored at 25 °C for 4 days (challenged with P. expansum) or 5 days (challenged with R. stolonifer) respectively, but the decay was distinctly prevented, the incidence of blue mold or Rhizopus mold was reduced by 78.6% or 80% respectively, compared with control, at challenged with P. expansum or R. stolonifer spores suspension of 5 × 104 spores ml−1, respectively. C. laurentii significantly reduced the natural development of decay and did not impair quality parameters of fruit following storage at 2 °C for 30 days followed by 20 °C for 7 days.