Plasma as a postharvest treatment against Monilia spp. on plum.

The genus Monilia spp. causes brown rot as well as blossom and twig blight on stone and pome fruits. In recent years an increasing number of plums from southern Germany developed symptoms post harvest on their way to the consumer. To reduce these losses, we aspire to develop a chemical free postharvest decontamination method for plums without reducing fruit quality by applying an atmospheric microwave driven air plasma. In order to evaluate the sterilizing effects of plasma as an alternative fruit protection application in pomiculture, we inactivate conidia and mycelium of Monilia spp. on plums. Initially spores and mycelium of Monilia laxa on model substrates are treated to proof a general decontamination effect.