Introduction of Candida membranifaciens and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa Yeasts as Effective Biocontrol Agents against Citrus Fruit Green and Blue Mold Diseases

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Assistant Professor, Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tehran, Iran.

10.22092/bcpp.2025.370897.400

Abstract

Postharvest decay in citrus fruits is considered one of the major challenges in the production and storage chain of these products, primarily caused by the activity of fungal pathogens. Among these, green mold (Penicillium digitatum) and blue mold (P. italicum) are regarded as the most important agents of damage. Management of these diseases is usually carried out by using chemical fungicides; however, concerns regarding their environmental impact and the emergence of resistant strains have increasingly highlighted the need to develop and apply alternative methods. In recent years, the use of biocontrol agents, especially antagonistic yeasts, has attracted considerable attention from researchers as a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to controlling postharvest diseases in citrus fruits. This study was conducted to evaluate the biocontrol potential of yeasts isolated from citrus fruits surfaces against the causal agents of green and blue mold diseases in citrus. To this purpose, fruit samples were collected from various orchards in Mazandaran province, and various indigenous yeasts were isolated from them. Based on phenotypic characteristics, representatives from each yeast group were selected, and their ability to inhibit the growth and development of infections caused by the aforementioned fungi was examined on Thomson Navel oranges. First, superficial scratches similar to natural damage were made on the surface of the fruits, after which they were placed in a suspension of yeast (at a concentration of 10^8 cells per milliliter of water). Subsequently, the fruits were inoculated with a suspension of pathogenic fungal spores (at a concentration of 10^5 spores per milliliter). After two weeks of storage under warehouse conditions, the incidence of disease was recorded and the data were subjected to statistical analysis based on a factorial experimental design in a completely randomized layout. The results show that both the type of yeast and the type of pathogen have a significant effect on the biocontrol efficiency. Molecular identification of the superior isolates was carried out using sequencing of the ITS gene region with specific ITS1 and ITS4 primers, and based on this, the two yeasts were identified as Candida membranifaciens and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa, respectively. Biocontrol performance assessment according to Abbott’s formula also shows that these two yeasts were highly effective in reducing decay, especially decay caused by green mold, with their efficacy in controlling green mold estimated at 98% and 99%, respectively. In contrast, for controlling blue mold, the efficacy was lower, reported at 50% and 58%, respectively. Overall, the results of this study indicate that the use of indigenous antagonistic yeasts can serve as an effective and eco–friendly alternative to chemical fungicides in the management of postharvest decay in citrus fruits and offers a suitable strategy for the development of integrated postharvest disease management systems.

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References

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BioControl in Plant Protection
Volume 12, Issue 2
December 2025
Pages 1-12

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