The antifungal activity of cecropin A(2-8)-melittin(6-9) hybrid undecapeptides, previously reported as active against plant pathogenic bacteria, was studied. A set of 15 sequences was screened in vitro against Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium expansum, Aspergillus niger, and Rhizopus stolonifer. Most compounds were highly active against F. oxysporum (MIC < 2.5 microM) but were less active agains...

ABSTRACT During the infection of citrus fruit by Penicillium digitatum there is little evidence of a host defense response. This suggests that P. digitatum has the ability to suppress host defenses. The current study demonstrates that P. digitatum suppresses a defense-related hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) burst in host tissue. In contrast, the nonhost pathogen, Penicillium expansum, triggers pro...

The effects of calcium propionate, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) on postharvest pathogens of apple and peach, and on improving the efficacy of the biocontrol product Aspire were evaluated. All three materials had a distinct inhibitory effect on the radial growth of Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum in vitro. The inhibitory effect increased with t...

Ten Penicillium sp. were screened for lectin activity for occurrence of lectins. Mycelial extracts from submerged cultures of P. corylophilum, P. expansum and P. purpurogenum showed agglutination against human (A, B, AB and O), goat, sheep, pig and rabbit erythrocytes. Neuraminidase treatment to human blood- type O erythrocytes substantially increased their agglutinability by all the lectins as...

At a concentration of 0.025% (w/v) chitosan-chloride inhibited spore germination of Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, and Candida saitoana. In contrast, at 0.5% (w/v) glycolchitosan inhibited spore germination of B. cinerea and P. expansum, but not the growth of C. saitoana in vitro or in apple wounds. The combination of C. saitoana with 0.2% glycolchitosan was more effective in controlli...