Biocontrol Activity of Aureubasidium pullulans and Candida orthopsilosis Isolated from Tectona grandis L. Phylloplane against Aspergillus sp. in Post-Harvested Citrus Fruit

This study aimed to isolate and identify moulds from rotten Citrus sinensis post-harvests and to investigate the activity of antagonist and biocontrol activity moulds that cause citrus fruit rotting. A total of 12 mould isolates were obtained. Following the pathogenicity test, two representative mould isolates were selected and identified based on the sequence analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA. Methods used in this study include isolation of fungal postharvest diseases, pathogenicity assay, antagonism assay, growth curve analysis, in vitro biocontrol assay, and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Two isolates of fungal postharvest diseases were determined as the most destructive pathogens. The biocontrol assay showed that isolates of Y1 and Y10 were capable to reduce the growth of fungal isolates K6 and K9 and mitigate up to 100% of the damage of sweet citrus fruits after 7 days of incubation. The moulds were identified as K6 (Aspergillus flavus sensu lato) and K9 (Aspergillus niger sensu lato). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Y10 yeast isolate was identified as Candida orthopsilosis, whereas the Y1 isolate had a close genetic relationship with Aureobasidium pullulans and possibly belongs to a new species. Further analysis is necessary to confirm this finding.

Automated summary

This study aimed to isolate and identify moulds causing citrus fruit rotting, with Y1 and Y10 isolates showing potential in reducing fungal growth and mitigating fruit damage. Further analysis is needed to confirm the potential new species discovered in the study.