ePrints

Impact of low-level atmospheric ozone-enrichment on black spot and anthracnose rot of tomato fruit

Lookup NU author(s): Nicolaos Tzortzakis, Dr Ian Singleton, Emeritus Professor Jerry Barnes

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Tomato fruit (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) were exposed to ozone concentrations between 0.005 (control) and 5.0 mu mol mol(-1) up to 13 days at 13 degrees C, prior to, or following, inoculation by Alternaria alternata or Colletotrichum coccodes (causes of black spot and anthracnose, respectively). Low-level atmospheric ozone-enrichment resulted in a modest, but statistically significant, reduction in fungal lesion development; higher concentrations of the gas resulting in greater effects. This finding implies concentration-specific impacts on fungal lesion development. A fluorescent lection assay revealed that the ozone-induced inhibition of visible lesion development was reflected in a similar reduction in fungal biomass below the fruit surface. Fungal spore production in vivo, was markedly reduced when fruit were stored in an ozone-enriched atmosphere. Higher concentrations/duration of exposure resulted in greater reduction in spore production, with considerable benefits resulting from exposure to low levels of ozone (i.e. below the 0.2 mu mol mol(-1) European threshold used for the protection of human health). In vitro, effects of ozone on spore germination depended on concentration and duration of exposure. Studies performed on fungi exposed to ozone on Potato Dextrose Agar at 13 degrees C and 95% relative humidity revealed no major effects on the growth of mycelia, implying the observed suppression of pathogen development was due in part to ozone-induced changes in fruit-pathogen interactions.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Tzortzakis N, Singleton I, Barnes JD

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Postharvest Biology and Technology

Year: 2008

Volume: 47

Issue: 1

Pages: 1-9

ISSN (print): 0925-5214

ISSN (electronic): 1873-2356

Publisher: Elsevier BV

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.postharvbio.2007.06.004

DOI: 10.1016/j.postharvbio.2007.06.004

Altmetrics

Share