Indonesia Conference Directory

Mold is one of causal agents of postharvest diseases in apples. These include Aspergillus sp., Penicilium expansum, Botrytis cinerea, and Venturia sp. Fungicide application in controlling postharvest diseases causing several problems such as fungal resistance, environmental pollution and health. Therefore, it is important to seek alternative solution which is safe to human and environment, such as biocontrol. The aims of this study were to examine biocontrol activity of yeast isolated from bintaro leaves in inhibiting the growth of fungal postharvest diseases in apples and to determine the identity of these yeasts by using molecular phylogenetic analysis of nucleotide sequencing from the ITS rDNA region. Samples of apples were collected from Perumnas Traditional Market, Klender, East Jakarta. Isolation was done by using direct isolation techniques. A total of 18 fungal isolates have been isolated from symptomatic apples. Pathogenicity assay showed that A. brasiliensis sensu lato strain A1 (KP value 100%; KeP 50%) and A. flavus sensu lato strain A17 (KP value 100%; KeP 31.25%) exhibit highest activity in deleterious apple fruits. Rhodotorula mucilaginosa strain T1 and two isolates of Aureobasidium c.f. pullulans (strain T3 and T4) showed highest antagonism activity against the fungal pathogens. Biocontrol assay showed that yeast isolates were capable to reduce the growth of A. brasiliensis and isolates T1 and T3 were capable to reduce the growth of A. flavus.