Profile of Penicillium species in the pear supply chain

Postharvest fruit decay caused by Penicillium pathogens is considered to be one of the most important challenges in the pear industry resulting in market-end losses. Moving export fruit through different environments exposes the product to extensive handling, temperature variations and microbes. The profile of Penicillium spp. present in the pear export chain from South Africa to the United Kingdom was therefore studied over a four year period. Sampling was done at two packhouse facilities, controlled atmosphere and cold storage areas in South Africa and at two re-pack facilities and cold storages as well as a distribution centre and a retailer in the United Kingdom. Sampling consisted of swabbing walls and floors and using active and passive air sampling. In total 5 056 isolates were obtained, purified and grouped into a total of 282 morphological groups. Of these 350 representative isolates were selected for further identification. The five most dominant species in the pear chain were: P. glabrum (23.40%); P. chrysogenum (15.13%); P. crustosum (14.16%); P. brevicompactum (8.96%); P. expansum (8.39%), of which the latter three were confirmed pathogenic on pears. This study provides a framework to monitor the inoculum potential in environments that fruit move through while being exported.The Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (TP 2011071100006)., the Department of Science and Technology, The South African Apple and Pear Producers Association (administered by Fruitgro Science), the Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, and the Postharvest Innovation Programme Phi, while the University of Pretoria and the National Research Foundation supported in the form of bursaries.2017-09-30hb2016Microbiology and Plant PathologyPlant Scienc

Penicillium air mycoflora in postharvest fruit handling environments associated with the pear export chain

Penicillium is a well-known airborne fungal contaminant that is prevalent in indoor air. In this study, the total air mycoflora was determined in postharvest fruit handling environments. The study included eleven indoor environments from the packhouse to the final retail outlet. Standard active and passive air sampling methods were used over a period of three years to obtain a profile of air quality. A total of 6047 and 5849 Penicillium colonies were counted of which 1123 and 508 isolates were obtained using active and passive sampling methods respectively. Ultimately, 25 dominant Penicillium spp. were identified from active air samples. The five most prevalent species isolated were: P. glabrum (31.88%); P. expansum (14.18%); P. crustosum (13.42%); P. chrysogenum (10.35%) and P. brevicompactum (10.25%). Furthermore, a total of 22 Penicililum spp. were isolated from passive air samples with P. glabrum (23.72%); P. italicum (16.45%); P. brevicompactum (14.22%); P. crustosum (13.80%) and P. chrysogenum (11.76%) being most prevalent. The presence of pathogenic Penicillium spp. in the air of fruit handling environments was profiled. Counts of total air mycoflora were significantly higher in the re-pack facilities than in all other environments sampled and are significantly higher than the proposed baseline threshold value. This study clearly shows the importance of air quality in facilities that regularly handle different fruit types. Re-pack and retail facilities should therefore be cleaned more effectively to reduce the potential air inoculum that can induce decay of fruit at the market-end. Finally we propose an air quality standard for fresh produce environments.The National Research Foundation (NRF), Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme, the South African Apple and Pear Producers Association (administered by Fruitgro Science), the Department of Science and Technology, Fresh Produce Exporters Forum, Postharvest Innovation Programme PHi and the University of Pretoria.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/postharvbio2018-06-01hj2018Plant Production and Soil Scienc