Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Postharvest Pathology pp 43–55Cite as

Mechanisms Modulating Postharvest Pathogen Colonization of Decaying Fruits

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Plant Pathology in the 21st Century ((ICPP,volume 2))

Abstract

As biotrophs, insidious fungal infections of postharvest pathogens remain quiescent during fruit growth while at a particular phase during fruit ripening and senescence the pathogens transform to necrotrophs causing typical decay symptoms. Exposure of unripe hosts to pathogens (hemi-biotroph or necrotrophs), initiates defensive signal-transduction cascades that limit fungal growth and development. Exposure to the same pathogens during ripening and storage activates a substantially different signalling cascade which facilitates fungal colonization. This chapter will focus on modulation of postharvest host-pathogen interactions by pH and the consequences of these changes. Host pH can be raised or lowered in response to host signals, including alkalization by ammonification of the host tissue as observed in Colletotrichum and Alternaria, or acidification by secretion of organic acids as observed in Penicillium, Botrytis and Sclerotinia. These changes sensitize the host and activate transcription and secretion of fungal hydrolases that promote maceration of the host tissue. Several particular examples of coordinated responses which follow this scheme are described.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alkan N, Fluhr R, Sherman A, Prusky D (2008) Role of ammonia secretion and pH modulation on pathogenicity of Colletotrichum coccodes on tomato fruit. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 21:1058-1066

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alkan N, Fluhr R, Sagi M, Davydov O, Prusky D (2009) Ammonia secreted by Colletotrichum coccodes effects host NADPH oxidase activity enhancing cell death and pathogenicity in tomato fruits. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 22:In press

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey JA, Jeger MJ (1992) Colletotrichum: biology, pathology and control. CAB International, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bateman DF, Beer SV (1965) Simultaneous production and synergistic action of oxalic acid and polygalacturonase during pathogenesis by Sclerotium rolfsii. Phytopathology 58:204-211

    Google Scholar 

  • Cessna SG, Searsa VE, Dickman MB, Low PS (2000) Oxalic acid, a pathogenicity factor for Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, suppresses the oxidative burst of the host plant. Plant Cell 12:2191-2199

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coates LM, Muirhead IF, Irwing JAG, Gowanlock DH (1993) Initial infection processes by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on avocado fruit. Mycol Res 97:1363-1370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denison SH (2000) pH regulation of gene expression in fungi. Fungal Genet Biol 29:61-71

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drori N, Kramer-Haimovich H, Rollins J, Dinoor A, Okon Y, Pines O, Prusky D (2003) External pH and nitrogen source affect secretion of pectate lyase by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Appl Environ Microbiol 69:3258-3262

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eshel D, Miyara I, Ailinng T, Dinoor A, Prusky D (2002) pH regulates endoglucanase expression and virulence of Alternaria alternata in persimmon fruits. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 15:774-779

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fourie JF, Holz G (1995) Initial infection process by Botrytis cinerea on nectarine and plum fruits and the development of decay. Phytopathology 85:82-87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Germeier C, Hedke K, Tiedemann AV (1994) The use of pH-indicators in diagnostic media for acid-producing plant pathogens. Z Pflanzenkr Pflanzenschutz 101:498-507

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hadas Y, Goldberg I, Pines O, Prusky D (2007) The relationship between expression of glucose oxidase, gluconic acid accumulation, acidification of host tissue and the pathogenicity of Penicillium expansum. Phytopathology 97:384-390

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ingermarsson B, Oscarsson P, Ugglas MA, Larsson CM (1987) Nitrogen utilization III. Short-term effects of ammonium on nitrate uptake and nitrate reduction. Plant Physiol 85:865-867

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim KS, Min JY, Dickman MB (2008) Oxalic acid is an elicitor of plant programmed cell death during Sclerotinia sclerotiorum disease development. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 21:605-612

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer-Haimovich H, Servi E, Katan T, Rollins J, Okon Y, Prusky D (2006) Effect of ammonia production by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on pelB activation, pectate lyase secretion, and fruit pathogenicity. Appl Environ Microbiol 72:1034-1039

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Latunde-Dada AO, O’Connell RJ, Nash C, Pring RJ, Lucas JA, Bailey JA (1996) Injection process and identity of the hemibiotrophic anthracnose fungus (Colletotrichum destructivum O’Gara) from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.). Mycol Res 100:1133-1141

    Google Scholar 

  • Manteau S, Abouna S, Lambert B, Legendre L (2003) Differential regulation by ambient pH of putative virulence factors secretion by the phytopathogenic fungus Botrytis cinerea. Fems Microbiol Ecol 43:359-366

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mendgen K, Hahn M (2001) Plant infection and the establishment of fungal biotrophy. Trends Plant Sci 6:496-498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miyara I, Shafran H, Kramere-Haimovich H, Rollins J, Sherman A, Prusky D (2008) Multi-factor regulation of pectate lyase secretion by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides pathogenic on avocado fruits. Mol Plant Pathol 9:281-291

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connell RJ, Bailey JA, Richmond DV (1985) Cytology and physiology of infection of Phaseolus vulgaris by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. Physiol Plant Pathol 27:75-98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perfect SE, Bleddyn Hughes H, O’Connell RJ, Green JR (1999) Colletotrichum: a model genus for studies on pathology and fungal-plant interactions. Fungal Genet Biol 27:186-198

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pezet R, Viret O, Perret C, Tabacchi R (2003) Latency of Botrytis cinerea Pers.:Fr. and biochemical studies during growth and ripening of two grape berry cultivars, respectively susceptible and resistant to grey mould. J Phytopathol 151:208-214

    Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D (1996) Pathogen quiescence in postharvest diseases. Annu Rev Phytopathol 34:413-434

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D, Lichter A (2007) Activation of quiescent infections by postharvest pathogens during transition from the biotrophic to the necrotrophic stage. FEMS Microbiol Lett 268:1-8

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D, Yakoby N (2003) Pathogenic fungi: leading or led by ambient pH? Mol Plant Pathol 4:509-516

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D, McEvoy JL, Leverentz B, Conway WS (2001a) Local modulation of host pH by Colletotrichum species as a mechanism to increase virulence. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 14:1105-1113

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D, Eshel D, Kobiler I, Yakoby N, Beno-Moualem D, Ackerman M, Zuthji Y, Ben Arie R (2001b) Postharvest chlorine treatments for the control of the persimmon black spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata. Postharvest Biol Technol 22:271-277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D, McEvoy JL, Saftner R, Conway WS, Jones R (2004) The relationship between host acidification and virulence of Penicillium spp. on apple and citrus fruit. Phytopathology 94:44-51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prusky D, Kobiler I, Akerman M, Miyara I (2006) Effect of acidic solutions and acid Prochloraz on the control of postharvest decays caused by Alternaria alternata in mango and persimmon fruit. Postharvest Biol Technol 42:134-141

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rollins JA (2003) The Sclerotinia sclerotirum pac1 gene is required for sclerotial development and virulence. Mol Plant Microbe Interaction 16:785-795

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rollins JA, Dickman MB (2001) pH signaling in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum: identification of pacC/RIM1 homolog. Applied Environ Microbiol 67:75-81

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruijter GJG, van de Vondervoort PJ, Visser J (1999) Oxalic acid production by Aspergillus niger: an oxalate-non-producing mutant produces citric acid at pH 5 and in the presence of manganese. Microbiology 145:2569-2576

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schaller A, Oecking C (1999) Modulation of plasma membrane H+-ATPase activity differentially activates wound and pathogen defense responses in tomato plants. Plant Cell 11:263-272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Torres PS, Candelas LG (2003) Isolation and characterization of genes differentially expressed during the interaction between apple fruit and Penicillium expansum. Mol Plant Pathol 4:447-457

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yakoby N, Kobiler I, Dinoor A, Prusky D (2000) pH regulation of pectate lyase secretion modulates the attack of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on avocado fruits. Appl Environ Microbiol 66:1026-1030

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yakoby N, Beno-Moualem D, Keen NT, Dinoor A, Pines O, Prusky D (2001) Colletotrichum gloeosporioides pelB, is an important factor in avocado fruit infection. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 14:988-995

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Postharvest Science of Fresh Produce, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Dov Prusky, Noam Alkan, Itay Miyara, Shiri Barad, Maayan Davidzon, Ilana Kobiler, Sigal Brown-Horowitz & Amnon Lichter

  2. Department of Genomics, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Amir Sherman

  3. Department of Plant Genetics, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel

    Robert Fluhr

Authors
  1. Dov Prusky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Noam Alkan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Itay Miyara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shiri Barad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Maayan Davidzon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ilana Kobiler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sigal Brown-Horowitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Amnon Lichter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Amir Sherman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Robert Fluhr
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dov Prusky .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Postharvest Science of, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet-Dagan, 50250, Israel

    Dov Prusky

  2. Centro di Competenza per, Università di Torino, Via Leonardo da Vinci 44, Grugliasco, 10095, Italy

    Maria Lodovica Gullino

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Prusky, D. et al. (2009). Mechanisms Modulating Postharvest Pathogen Colonization of Decaying Fruits. In: Prusky, D., Gullino, M. (eds) Postharvest Pathology. Plant Pathology in the 21st Century, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-8930-5_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation