Changes in the Fungal Community Assembly of Apple Fruit Following Postharvest Application of the Yeast Biocontrol Agent Metschnikowia fructicola

Recently, increasing focus has been placed on exploring fruit microbiomes and their association with hosts. Investigation of the surface microbiome apple revealed variations in composition structure depending management practices, phenological stages, spatial distribution itself. However, fate assembly dynamics following interventions such as application biocontrol agents remains unknown. The objective study was to explore effect a postharvest yeast agent, Metschnikowia fructicola, epiphytic fungal microbiota apples during cold storage. Our results demonstrated that applied M. persisted high abundance (>28% relative abundance) throughout storage period. significantly decreased richness caused significant shift overall untreated or water-treated controls. reduced several pathogens, namely, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Comoclatris, Stemphylium, Nigrospora, Penicillium, Podosphaera,