Molecular characterization of Aureobasidium spp. strains isolated during the cold season. A preliminary efficacy evaluation as novel potential biocontrol agents against postharvest pathogens

Abstract Several Aureobasidium spp. strains isolated from wild environments during winter 2022 were characterized by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor EF-1α gene (EF1), and part elongase (ELO). The variability in EF1 ELO loci are higher than ITS. All but one (UC14), identified as A. pullulans . To assess effectiveness biocontrol agents (BCAs) diseases occurring postharvest storage, a selection was evaluated vitro vivo assays. On average, reduction Monilinia colony growth more marked for non-volatile metabolites volatile (VOCs). Strain UC14 provided strongest mycelial fructicola VOCs (66%). According to results , all effective controlling brown rot cold storage remarkably restricting polystroma In particular, VB23 most incidence, 80%, 60%, 100%, severity, 79.5%, 72.7% laxa, M. fructicola, polystroma, respectively.