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Horticulturae
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Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the...
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Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management

A special issue of Horticulturae (ISSN 2311-7524). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Pathology and Disease Management (PPDM)".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2023) | Viewed by 59857

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. TaeJin Cho

E-Mail
Guest Editor
Department of Food and Biotechnology, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
Interests: hygiene; pathogens; food safety; microbiology; post-harvest quality; antimicrobial agents extracted from plants; microbial genomics; product processing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The microbiological safety of horticultural plants (vegetables, fruits, spices, flowers, other edible crops, ornamental plants, etc.) is important for both human health and product quality of edible and ornamental plants. Pathogen control studies include research areas regarding not only the development and/or application of decontamination technologies but also the examination on the occurrence and characterization of pathogens isolated from horticulture plants. The analysis on the prevalence of microorganisms linked to pre-/post-harvest diseases of horticultural commodities (raw materials, work-in-process products, and end-products from manufacturing plants) and environments (growing regions, retail, etc.) can identify the critical control points for the decontamination of microorganisms to prevent the consumption of foods contaminated with hazardous microorganisms. Advances in the management technology (pathogen detection methods, decontamination techniques, etc.) of hazardous microorganisms in horticultural plants have contributed to the establishment of effective/efficient intervention strategies against microbiological risk factors. The analysis of postharvest physiology and pathology of horticultural plants is also be expected to help in obtaining the clues for the inhibition/inactivation of horticulture pathogens. Since there is a wide diversity for the applicability of decontamination technologies according to each horticultural plant species, the accumulation of scientific findings is crucial in microbial risk assessment/management of raw and/or processed products of horticultural plants (fresh-cut fruits or vegetables, etc.). Understanding the current advancements in risk management technologies can give direction to future perspectives on the countermeasures to the threats of pre-/post-harvest diseases derived by pathogens.

Examples of the topic of this SI are as follows but not limited to:

  • Identification and characterization of microorganisms causing undesirable post-harvest changes (decay) in plants;
  • Decontamination technologies and microbial detection technologies applicable to pre-/post-harvest systems against horticultural pathogens;
  • Examination of horticultural pathogenic mechanisms;
  • Development and application of technologies for product quality (decay control in the postharvest system, shelf-life extension, maintenance of postharvest freshness, preservation, etc.);
  • Analysis of the incidence of pathogens from farm, retail establishments, market, and commercial horticulture plants.

Research articles, reviews, short notes, and opinion articles are welcome for our current SI.

Prof. Dr. TaeJin Cho
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Horticulturae is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fruit
  • vegetable
  • horticultural crop
  • pathogen
  • microbial risk
  • risk analysis
  • risk assessment
  • risk management
  • pre-/post-harvest diseases
  • disinfection

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Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

3 pages, 192 KiB  
Editorial
Pre-/Post-Harvest Pathogen-Control Strategies for Improving the Quality and Safety of Horticultural Plants
by Tae Jin Cho
Horticulturae 2023, 9(7), 834; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9070834 - 21 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1260
Abstract
The microbiological safety of horticultural plants (vegetables, fruits, spices, flowers, other edible crops, ornamental plants, etc [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

13 pages, 2394 KiB  
Article
Antibacterial Activity of Ginkgo biloba Extracts against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Pseudomonas spp., and Xanthomonas vesicatoria
by Eva Sánchez-Hernández, Vicente González-García, Ana Palacio-Bielsa, Belén Lorenzo-Vidal, Laura Buzón-Durán, Jesús Martín-Gil and Pablo Martín-Ramos
Horticulturae 2023, 9(4), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9040461 - 5 Apr 2023
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3723
Abstract
Phytopathogenic bacteria represent a risk to global food production by impacting a variety of crops. The aim of this study was to characterize the contents of bioactive constituents in extracts from Ginkgo biloba L. leaves and fruits and test their activity against six [...] Read more.
Phytopathogenic bacteria represent a risk to global food production by impacting a variety of crops. The aim of this study was to characterize the contents of bioactive constituents in extracts from Ginkgo biloba L. leaves and fruits and test their activity against six phytopathogenic bacteria that affect horticultural crops. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC−MS) was used for the chemical profiling of the aqueous methanol extracts, and their bacteriostatic activity against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis, Pseudomonas cichorii, Pseudomonas syringae pv. pisi, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, and Xanthomonas vesicatoria (formerly Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria) was determined in vitro through the agar dilution method. The protective effect of the leaf extract was tested in vivo against the most relevant bacterial pathogens based on their economic/scientific importance, i.e., C. michiganensis subsp. michiganensis and P. syringae pv. pisi, in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and pea (Pisum sativum L.) plants, respectively, under greenhouse conditions. The GC−MS characterization of G. biloba extracts revealed the presence of dihydro-4-hydroxy-2(3H)-furanone, 2,4-dimethyl-3-hexanol, catechol, 3-O-methyl-D-fructose, 4,6-di-O-methyl-α-D-galactose, methyl 2-O-methyl-α-D-xylofuranoside, and 3-methyl mannoside. In vitro growth inhibition tests showed that, while the fruit extract had no activity, the leaf extract exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations between 500 and 1000 μg mL−1, which may be attributed to the presence of 2,4-dimethyl-3-hexanol and catechol. In vivo tests of the leaf extract demonstrated full protection in tomato and pea plants at 1000 and 1500 μg∙mL−1, respectively. The results indicate that G. biloba leaves may be employed as a biorational source for integrated pest management in horticulture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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19 pages, 1988 KiB  
Article
Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Insect Properties of Boswellia carterii Essential Oil for Food Preservation Improvement
by Petra Borotová, Natália Čmiková, Lucia Galovičová, Nenad L. Vukovic, Milena D. Vukic, Eva Tvrdá, Przemysław Łukasz Kowalczewski, Maciej Ireneusz Kluz, Czeslaw Puchalski, Marianna Schwarzová, Ladislav Bakay and Miroslava Kačániová
Horticulturae 2023, 9(3), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9030333 - 3 Mar 2023
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5387
Abstract
Boswellia carterii, known as frankincense, is a fragrant medicinal plant. The essential oil from this plant is often used in traditional medicine or aromatherapy. Due to its positive properties, it has potential applications as an antimicrobial agent in medicine and the food [...] Read more.
Boswellia carterii, known as frankincense, is a fragrant medicinal plant. The essential oil from this plant is often used in traditional medicine or aromatherapy. Due to its positive properties, it has potential applications as an antimicrobial agent in medicine and the food industry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial, anti-insect, and antioxidant activities of frankincense essential oil (FEO). The composition of volatile compounds was determined by GC/MS, and the main components were found to be α-pinene (37.0%), α-limonene (19.8%), and p-cymene (6.3%). The antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH and ABTS methods with the resulting inhibition of 73.88 ± 0.35% of DPPH radical (6.27 ± 0.17 TEAC) and 97.09 ± 0.48% of ABTS radical cation (5.21 ± 0.07 TEAC). The antimicrobial activity was the strongest against Candida species with inhibition zones in the range of 38.00–44.00 mm and MIC 50 and MIC 90 values of 11.72 and 12.58 μL/mL, respectively. The inhibition activity of the vapor phase was the highest against G+ and G− bacteria growing on a carrot with inhibition ranging from 65.14 to 93.67%. The anti-insect activity against O. lavaterae was determined as 100% at 100% concentration and 50% at 25% concentration. The degradation of biofilm was tested with MALDI-TOF MS, and changes in the protein profile were observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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12 pages, 1475 KiB  
Article
Management of Vegetable Leaf Miner, Liriomyza Spp., (Diptera: Agromyzidae) in Vegetable Crops
by Muhammad Ameer Hamza, Muhammad Ishtiaq, Mirza Abid Mehmood, Muhammad Abdul Majid, Madiha Gohar, Emanuele Radicetti, Roberto Mancinelli, Naeem Iqbal and Stefano Civolani
Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 255; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020255 - 14 Feb 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4958
Abstract
Vegetables are considered high value crops based on their growing areas and productivity, even if they are affected by a variety of insect pests throughout the whole growing season. Leaf miner is an immature of an insect that lives inside and consumes the [...] Read more.
Vegetables are considered high value crops based on their growing areas and productivity, even if they are affected by a variety of insect pests throughout the whole growing season. Leaf miner is an immature of an insect that lives inside and consumes the leaf tissues of vegetable plants. Adult females of leaf miner puncture the leaf with their ovipositor, forming tube pattern, and feed on the punctured parts. Host plants survey of leaf miner in Multan (Pakistan) area was conducted. Twenty host plants were found in 2017, whereas twenty-four host plants were found infested with Liriomyza spp. (Diptera) in 2022 i.e., watermelon (24% infestation), long melon (75%), pumpkin (71%), round gourd (67%), snake melon (70%), bitter gourd (50%), long gourd (89%), bottle gourd (93%), pointed gourd (80%), snap gourd (86%), ridge gourd (83%), cucumber (98%), mung bean (98%), eggplant (60%), Petunia alba (88%), Zinnia elegies (30%), cotton (10%), okra (5%), berseem (7%), tomato (89%), Pea (52%) and Canola (28%). No infestation of leaf miners was observed on potato, chilies, and sweet potatoes. Color attraction results in 2017 and 2022 showed that there was maximum attraction of tomato leaf miner towards yellow sticky cards as compared to blue sticky cards. Varietal preference of tomato crop showed that Baby red variety was the most preferred by leaf miner (Liriomyza spp.), and comparatively Sehar was the least preferred variety. Field efficacy of four different insecticides against leaf miner were also tested. Insecticidal effects attributed as percent reduction of leaf miner infestation that showed the highest reduction values were observed after 7 DOA for Spinetoram (76.98%), whereas Bifenthrin (57%). Deltaphos (43 %) was the least toxic insecticide against Liriomyza spp. Integrated approaches are recommended to manage vegetable leaf miner like application of yellow sticky traps, discouraging preferred host plants, application of insecticides with novel modes of actions like spintoram and spinosad for effective management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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14 pages, 1951 KiB  
Article
Relative Cleanability and Sanitization of Blueberry Mechanical Harvester Surfaces
by Renee M. Holland, Laurel L. Dunn, Jinru Chen, Himabindu Gazula, Jonathan E. Oliver and Harald Scherm
Horticulturae 2022, 8(11), 1017; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8111017 - 1 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1859
Abstract
Berry crops are increasingly being harvested mechanically to reduce labor costs, but there is a lack of research on best practices for cleaning and sanitizing of mechanical harvesters to maintain proper food hygiene. Laboratory experiments were conducted with surface coupons cut from materials [...] Read more.
Berry crops are increasingly being harvested mechanically to reduce labor costs, but there is a lack of research on best practices for cleaning and sanitizing of mechanical harvesters to maintain proper food hygiene. Laboratory experiments were conducted with surface coupons cut from materials commonly used on blueberry harvesters, including polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, aluminum, extruded polycarbonate, acetal plastic, and stainless steel. Surfaces differed in their hydrophobicity and surface roughness, ranging from 0.04 µm for polycarbonate to 1.57 µm for acetal plastic. The relative cleanability of the surface coupons was assessed by determining the removal of an applied mock soil (dried blueberry puree) in a rinsing-shaking assay with distilled water at room temperature. Results showed that the amount of soil removed increased over time according to a negative exponential function, from 29.6% at 30 s to 40.3% at 240 s rinse time. Compared with the time effect, the differences in soil removal among surfaces were relatively small. The addition of cleaning agents and detergents did not improve soil removal, and the only treatment that removed significantly more soil than the water control was heated (50 °C) distilled water. In sanitization assays, three representative microorganisms were allowed to attach to surface coupons, then exposed to three different sanitizers (0.25% bleach with 200 ppm free-chlorine sodium hypochlorite, 0.30% SaniDate 5.0, or 1.0% No-Rinse Food Contact Cleaner Sanitizer). There was no significant surface effect on microbial reductions following sanitizer treatment. For Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, none of the sanitizers significantly reduced population densities below the water control. In contrast, surface populations of Rhodoturula mucilaginosa and Epicoccum nigrum were reduced significantly by all three sanitizers, with SaniDate (23.0% hydrogen peroxide + 5.3% peroxyacetic acid) resulting in the greatest reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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15 pages, 4555 KiB  
Article
Antifungal Activity of Ginger Rhizome Extract against Fusarium solani
by Ke-Yong Xi, Shi-Jie Xiong, Gang Li, Chang-Quan Guo, Jie Zhou, Jia-Wei Ma, Jun-Liang Yin, Yi-Qing Liu and Yong-Xing Zhu
Horticulturae 2022, 8(11), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8110983 - 22 Oct 2022
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 11514
Abstract
Fusarium solani is one of the most ruinous soil-borne pathogens and seriously affects crop yields and quality worldwide. Ginger is an important medicinal crop, and ginger rhizome extract (GRE) has been used as an alternative for chemical fungicides and bactericides. We investigated the [...] Read more.
Fusarium solani is one of the most ruinous soil-borne pathogens and seriously affects crop yields and quality worldwide. Ginger is an important medicinal crop, and ginger rhizome extract (GRE) has been used as an alternative for chemical fungicides and bactericides. We investigated the fungistatic effect of GRE on F. solani and analyzed the chemical constituents of GRE using UPLC-MS/MS. Antifungal assay results showed that 20 mg/mL of GRE completely inhibited the growth of F. solani. Morphological analysis revealed that GRE destroyed the morphology and structure of mycelia, thus inhibiting mycelial growth. Furthermore, GRE suppressed the activities of cell wall-degrading and cellular respiratory-related enzymes and decreased the content of fusaric acid, which reduced or even abrogated the infection ability of F. solani. UPLC-MS/MS analysis showed that GRE constituents belonged to eight categories, among which phenolic acids were the highest in content (46.29%) and tannins were the lowest in content (0.06%). When the antifungal activities of major phenolic and flavonoid compounds were evaluated, 4.0 mg/mL 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 15.0 mg/mL quercetin were found to completely inhibit F. solani growth. These results highlight GRE as an excellent source of antifungal compounds and suggest the possibility of using 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and quercetin as natural fungicides to control crop diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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23 pages, 5655 KiB  
Article
Thyme Essential Oil Reduces Disease Severity and Induces Resistance against Alternaria linariae in Tomato Plants
by Luis Alberto Saltos-Rezabala, Patrícia Ricardino Da Silveira, Dérica Gonçalves Tavares, Silvino Intra Moreira, Thiago Alves Magalhães, Deila Magna Dos Santos Botelho and Eduardo Alves
Horticulturae 2022, 8(10), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8100919 - 7 Oct 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3768
Abstract
Currently, the use of alternative tools for chemical control has become one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly options for crop protection against phytopathogens. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the effect of essential oils (EOs) on the control of tomato early [...] Read more.
Currently, the use of alternative tools for chemical control has become one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly options for crop protection against phytopathogens. Thus, the present study aimed to assess the effect of essential oils (EOs) on the control of tomato early blight (EB), a highly destructive disease of this crop. The antifungal activity and ability to induce resistance induction of the EOs of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) were tested for control of A. linariae in tomato plants. In vitro, mycelial growth and conidial germination were strongly inhibited when thyme EO (TEO; 2000 ppm) and lemongrass (LGEO; 2000 ppm) were applied. The infected leaf area and final disease index were decreased by 47.78% and 39.00%, respectively, compared to the water treatment. Foliar spraying with TEO increased the activity of the defense-related enzymes peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and β-1,3-glucanase. Furthermore, callose deposition and phenolic compound accumulation in tissues infected by A. linariae improved after TEO application. In conclusion, TEO stimulated the defense system of tomato plants infected by A. linariae, which was associated with a reduced severity of EB. These results indicate that TEO is a potential tool in tomato EB disease management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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22 pages, 3817 KiB  
Article
Satureja montana Essential Oil, Zein Nanoparticles and Their Combination as a Biocontrol Strategy to Reduce Bacterial Spot Disease on Tomato Plants
by Paulo R. Oliveira-Pinto, Nuno Mariz-Ponte, Rose Marie O. F. Sousa, Ana Torres, Fernando Tavares, Artur Ribeiro, Artur Cavaco-Paulo, Manuel Fernandes-Ferreira and Conceição Santos
Horticulturae 2021, 7(12), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120584 - 16 Dec 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3841
Abstract
Tomato bacterial spot (Bs), caused by Xanthomonas spp., including X. euvesicatoria (Xeu) remains a major threat for tomato production. The emergence of copper resistance strains of Xeu calls urgently for eco-friendly phytosanitary treatments as sustainable green alternatives for disease control. Satureja spp. essential [...] Read more.
Tomato bacterial spot (Bs), caused by Xanthomonas spp., including X. euvesicatoria (Xeu) remains a major threat for tomato production. The emergence of copper resistance strains of Xeu calls urgently for eco-friendly phytosanitary treatments as sustainable green alternatives for disease control. Satureja spp. essential oil (EO) has antimicrobial activity against xanthomonads and combined with zein nanoparticles (ZNPs), might offer a viable option for field applications. This study aims to evaluate the effects of S. montana EO, of ZNPs, and their combination in a nanoformulation, on Xeu quantity, and how these compounds modulate molecular and physiological changes in the pathosystem. Uninfected and infected tomato plants (var. Oxheart) were treated with EO; ZNPs and nanoformulation (EO + ZNPs). Treatments reduced Xeu amount by a minimum of 1.6-fold (EO) and a maximum of 202-fold (ZNPs) and improved plants’ health. Nanoformulation and ZNPs increased plants’ phenolic content. ZNPs significantly increased GPX activity and reduced CAT activity. Overall treatments upregulated transcripts of the phenylpropanoid pathway in infected plants, while ZNPs and nanoformulation upregulated those transcripts in uninfected plants. Both sod and aao transcripts were downregulated by treatments in infected plants. These findings demonstrate that S. montana EO, ZNPs and their nanoformulation are suitable to integrate tomato bacterial spot management strategies, mainly due to their antimicrobial activity on Xeu, however further field studies clarifying the long-term action of these products are required. These results also support the prophylactic potential of ZNPs on tomato bacterial spot. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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21 pages, 3215 KiB  
Article
Natural Plant Extracts and Microbial Antagonists to Control Fungal Pathogens and Improve the Productivity of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) In Vitro and in Greenhouse
by Hanaa S. Hassan, Abeer A. Mohamed, Mostafa N. Feleafel, Mohamed Z. M. Salem, Hayssam M. Ali, Mohammad Akrami and Doaa Y. Abd-Elkader
Horticulturae 2021, 7(11), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7110470 - 5 Nov 2021
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7184
Abstract
Background: Natural plant extracts and microbial antagonists have the potential for use in increasing the fungal resistance and productivity of horticulture plants. Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of both natural plant extracts and microbial antagonists as a [...] Read more.
Background: Natural plant extracts and microbial antagonists have the potential for use in increasing the fungal resistance and productivity of horticulture plants. Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of both natural plant extracts and microbial antagonists as a biotical control of some fungal pathogens, i.e., Fusarium ssp., Exserohilum ssp. and Nigrospora ssp., along with improving the growth and productivity performance of zucchini under greenhouse conditions. Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf extract (LE), Citrus sinensis LE, Ficus benghalensis fruit extract (FE), and two microbial antagonists Pseudomonas fluorescens (accession no. MW647093) and Trichoderma viride (accession no. MW647090) were tested under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Through morphological characteristics and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, Fusarium solani (accession no. MW947256), F. oxysporum (accession no. MW947254), Exserohilum rostratum (accession no. MW947255), and Nigrospora lacticolonia (accession no. MW947253) were identified. HPLC analysis was used for the identification of phenolic compounds (PCs) and flavonoid compounds (FCs) in the extracts. Results: The highest inhibition percentage of fungal growth (IPFG) against F. oxysporum was obtained with P. fluorescens, T. viride, and E. camaldulensis LE (4000 mg/L); F. solani with P. fluorescens, T. viride, and C. sinensis LE (4000 mg/L); Exserohilum rostratum with P. fluorescens, Ficus benghalensis FE (4000 mg/L) and E. camaldulensis LE (4000 mg/L), and N. lacticolonia with P. fluorescens. Using HPLC analysis, the abundant PCs in E. camaldulensis LE were pyrogallol, and caffeic acid, those in C. sinensis LE were syringic acid and ferulic acid, and those in F. benghalensis FE were gallic acid and syringic acid. In addition, the abundant FCs in E. camaldulensis LE were kaempferol, and naringin, those in C. sinensis LE were hesperidin and quercetin, and those in F. benghalensis FE were kaempferol and quercetin. Under greenhouse experiments, T. viride and E. camaldulensis LE (4000 mg/L) followed by P. fluorescens + T. viride treatments gave the best results of zucchini plants in terms of leaf area, fruits number per plant, yield per plant, and total yield (marketable and non-marketable). Conclusions: Plant extracts and bioagents can be used to control some zucchini fungal pathogens and increase the productivity performance of zucchini plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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14 pages, 1266 KiB  
Article
Persistence and Transfer of Foodborne Pathogens to Sunflower and Pea Shoot Microgreens during Production in Soil-Free Cultivation Matrix
by Wenjun Deng, Gina M. Misra, Christopher A. Baker and Kristen E. Gibson
Horticulturae 2021, 7(11), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7110446 - 2 Nov 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4039
Abstract
Microgreens are an emerging salad crop with properties similar to those of sprouted seeds and lettuce. This study aimed to determine bacterial pathogen persistence during microgreen cultivation and transfer from soil-free cultivation matrix (SFCM) to mature microgreens. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Javiana [...] Read more.
Microgreens are an emerging salad crop with properties similar to those of sprouted seeds and lettuce. This study aimed to determine bacterial pathogen persistence during microgreen cultivation and transfer from soil-free cultivation matrix (SFCM) to mature microgreens. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Javiana and Listeria monocytogenes were inoculated onto biostrate mats as well as peat SFCM and sampled (day 0). Next, sunflower and pea shoot seeds were planted (day 0) and grown in a controlled environment until the microgreen harvest (day 10). On day 10, SFCM and microgreens were sampled to determine the pathogen levels in the SFCM and the pathogen transfer to microgreens during production. Salmonella Javiana log CFU/g were significantly higher than L. monocytogenes in SFCM on day 10 in both planted and unplanted regions (p < 0.05). Significant differences in pathogen transfer (log CFU/g) were observed between the pea shoot and sunflower microgreens, regardless of the pathogen or SFCM type (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, pathogen transfer to the pea shoot and sunflower microgreens from the biostrate was 1.53 (95% CI: −0.75–3.81) and 5.29 (95% CI: 3.01–7.57) mean log CFU/g, respectively, and transfer from the peat was 0.00 (95% CI: −2.28–2.28) and 2.64 (95% CI: 0.36–4.92) mean log CFU/g, respectively. Results demonstrate that pathogen transfer to microgreens during production is influenced by SFCM and microgreen variety. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research

41 pages, 610 KiB  
Review
Advances in the Strategic Approaches of Pre- and Post-Harvest Treatment Technologies for Peach Fruits (Prunus persica)
by Jin Song Shin, Han Sol Park, Ki Won Lee, Ji Seop Song, Hea Yeon Han, Hye Won Kim and Tae Jin Cho
Horticulturae 2023, 9(3), 315; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9030315 - 28 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6844
Abstract
Peach (Prunus persica) is one of the representative climacteric fruits susceptible to environmental stresses, including microbial contamination. This article analyzed major findings from the literature on pre- and post-harvest technologies for maintaining the quality of peach fruit to figure out the [...] Read more.
Peach (Prunus persica) is one of the representative climacteric fruits susceptible to environmental stresses, including microbial contamination. This article analyzed major findings from the literature on pre- and post-harvest technologies for maintaining the quality of peach fruit to figure out the strengths and limitations of each treatment strategy. The key implication from studies of pre-harvest agents directly applied to the fruit surface or supplemented as fertilizer was the application of a mixture regarding substances with diverse working mechanisms to prevent excessive use of the agent. The common objectives of previous research on pre-harvest treatments were not only the improvement in the quality of harvested fruit but also the storability during long-term refrigeration due to the short lifespan of peaches. In the case of post-harvest treatments, the efficacy was considerably affected by various determinant factors (e.g., a cultivar of fruit, the sort of technologies, and storage environments), and thus operating conditions optimized for peach fruit were described in this article. Whereas, although the combined treatment of technologies categorized into principles (physical, chemical, and biological approaches) has been adopted to achieve the synergistic effect, undesirable antagonistic effects (i.e., the inhibition of efficacies expectable from singular treatments) were also reported to highlight the importance for exploring adequate treatment conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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13 pages, 1400 KiB  
Review
Hazelnut-Associated Bacteria and Their Implications in Crop Management
by Rosario Nicoletti, Milena Petriccione, Martina Curci and Marco Scortichini
Horticulturae 2022, 8(12), 1195; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8121195 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4136
Abstract
In recent years, the cultivation of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) has expanded in several areas of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America following the increased demand for raw materials by the food industry. Bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. [...] Read more.
In recent years, the cultivation of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) has expanded in several areas of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America following the increased demand for raw materials by the food industry. Bacterial diseases caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. corylina and Pseudomonas avellanae are threats of major concern for hazelnut farmers. These pathogens have been controlled with copper-based products, which are currently being phased out in the European Union. Following the need for alternative practices to manage these diseases, some progress has been recently achieved through the exploitation of the plant’s systemic acquired resistance mechanisms, nanoparticle technology, as well as preventive measures based on hot water treatment of the propagation material. However, bacteria are not only agents of the biotic adversities of hazelnut. In fact, the application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria at the seedling level could enhance better performance of the tree. Likewise, endophytic and epiphytic microorganisms are considered to play a notable role in plant nutrition and protection, and their effects on hazelnut fitness deserve to be further investigated. Finally, bacterial associations may also be relevant in the post-harvest phase, particularly with reference to the processes of lipid oxidation and fat degradation suffered by the kernels after grinding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogen Control Strategies for Pre-/Post-harvest of Horticultural Plants and the Application of the Plant-Derived Substances for Microbial Risk Management)
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