Control of Storage Decay of Apples withSporobolomyces roseus

The biocontrol potential of an antagonist occurring naturally on pome fruit surfaces against postharvest diseases of apple (Malus × domestica) was investigated. Pink yeast, Sporobolomyces roseus (isolate FS-43-238), isolated from pear fruit reduced blue mold (Penicillium expansum) from 100 to 0% and gray mold (Botrytis cinerea) from 78 to 0% on wounded fruit drop-inoculated with suspensions containing 7.9×10 6 and 6.3×10 5 cfu/ml yeast cells, respectively, and then challenged with the pathogen at 104 conidia per milliliter. The reduction in the percentage of infected wounds and in average lesion diameter followed a similar pattern and was effected by the antagonist and pathogen concentrations