Stability of Dry and Liquid Metschnikowia pulcherrima Formulations for Biocontrol Applications against Apple Postharvest Diseases

The yeast Metschnikowia pulcherrima is frequently isolated from environmental samples and has often been reported to exhibit strong antagonistic activity against plant pathogens. In order assess the potential of this species for its development into a protection product, survival during formulation storage were quantified field efficacy was assessed over period five years. Freeze dried liquid M. formulations (i.e., with skim milk powder (SMP), sucrose, glycerol, xanthan, without additives) prepared number viable cells at different temperatures. Field trials apple postharvest diseases (Neofabreae) performed dry formulations. proved exceptionally stable many months even Five years revealed variable effects, but reduced Neofabreae infections stored apples observed in some applications after prior fungicide treatments repeatedly showed an additive effect as compared alone. summary, exhibited highly advantageous properties encouraging rots. Further studies identify factors responsible are expected lay foundation future product.