Botrytis cinerea Pers. in postharvest apple fruit, control with Candida oleophila Montrocher strains and/or synthetic fungicides

As an alternative control method, to improve control and to reduce synthetic fungicide use, three Candida oleophila strains and/or four commercial synthetic fungicides were used to control Botrytis cinerea damage on postharvest apple fruit. Synthetic commercial fungicides; Cyprodinil+Fludioxonil, Thiabendazole and Benomyl, allowed Candida oleophila strains colony growth when challenged to the pressure of these fungicides. Synthetic commercial fungicide Captan did not allow any Candida oleophila strains colony growth. Control of Botrytis cinerea expressed in % of damage and damage reduction, gave an average control of; 100% for Cyprodinil+Fludioxonil; Captan, 97.5%; Thiabendazole, 94.1% and Benomyl, 93.7% All Candida oleophila strains, individually, gave a 100% control. Thiabendazole and Benomyl improved their efficiency to control Botrytis cinerea when combined with Candida oleophila. Control of Botrytis cinerea damage on postharvest Golden Delicious apple fruit can be achieved up to 100% either with Candida oleophila strains individually and/or with Cyprodinil+Fludioxonil alone. The use of Candida oleophila as an alternative method to control Botrytis cinerea damage on postharvest apple fruit means a reduction of synthetic fungicide use, plus avoiding fungicide residues on the treated apple fruit and on the environment, thus reducing the risk for human health damage.