Fruit Stem-End Rot

Abstract

After harvest, the fruit ripens and stem-end rot (SER) starts to develop, leading to significant fruit losses. SER is caused by diverse pathogenic fungi that endophytically colonize the stem during fruit development in the orchard or field and remain quiescent until the onset of fruit ripening. During the endophytic-like stage, the pathogenic fungus colonizes the phloem and xylem of the fruit stem-end; after fruit ripening, the fungus converts to a necrotrophic lifestyle, while colonizing the fruit parenchyma, and causes SER. The fruit stem-end is colonized not only by pathogenic fungi, but also by various nonpathogenic endophytic microorganisms, including fungi, yeast and bacteria. However, little is known about the fruit stem-end endophytic microbiome, which could contain new and existing biocontrol agents. To control fruit SER, treatments such as ripening inhibition, harvesting with the stem, application of chemical or biological fungicides, or physical control such as heat treatments, cold storage, or exposure to light have been suggested. This review focuses on the characterization of SER pathogens, the stem-end microbiome, and different pre- and postharvest practices that could control fruit SER.

UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS-Based Metabolomics Approach Reveals the Antifungal Potential of Pinocembroside against Citrus Green Mold Phytopathogen

“…Citrus fruit is a major economic crop with a diverse range of species and varieties, including oranges, mandarins, tangerines, pummelos, lemons, citrons, kumquats, limes, and different hybrids [1,2]. Postharvest storage and shelf life of citrus fruit are limited due to the attack of several pathogens such as Penicillium spp., Geotrichum citri-aurantii, Alternaria alternata, and Diaporthe citri being the prevalent postharvest pathogenic fungi in citrus fruit [3][4][5][6]. Among these pathogens, P. digitatum, the causal agent of green mold, is considered one of the most threatening postharvest diseases in citrus fruit.…”

Harvesting Mango Fruit with a Short Stem-End Altered Endophytic Microbiome and Reduce Stem-End Rot

“…Phomopsis mangiferae, Cytosphaera mangiferae, and Pestalotiopsis sp., and by other pathogenic fungi, such as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and Alternaria alternata [3][4][5]. The pathogenic fungi causing SER endophytically colonize mango pedicels and inflorescences [4,6].…”

Postharvest Fungicide for Avocado Fruits: Antifungal Efficacy and Peel to Pulp Distribution Kinetics

“…Fludioxonil has been recently demonstrated to be more effective than prochloraz in controlling Lasiodiplodia in mango fruit [11]. Lasiodiplodia is the main fungi responsible for SER disease and the main concern of postharvest decay in avocado fruit [13,14]. Therefore, conidia of L. theobromae were drop-inoculated on the stem-end of ripe Pinkerton avocado fruit.…”

“…In Israel, the early season avocado cultivars (as Ettinger) suffer mostly from SER while the late season cultivars (as Reed) suffer from both anthracnose and SER, but mainly from anthracnose [14]. To evaluate the effect of both fungicides against the natural rots, "Ettinger" and "Reed" avocado cultivars were treated with prochloraz or fludioxonil, followed by CS and SL storage, without any fungal inoculation.…”