Etiología e incidencia de las enfermedades de poscosecha del níspero cv. Algerie en Callosa d’en Sarrià (Alicante)

espanolEspana es el segundo productor mundial y el primer exportador de nispero japones (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) para el consumo en fresco. Mas del 50% del area cultivada se encuentra en la provincia de Alicante, concretamente en la zona de Callosa d'en Sarria, donde mas del 90% de la produccion corresponde al cultivar "Algerie". Esta produccion se destina mayoritariamente a mercados de la Union Europea (UE). Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron identificar y cuantificar los hongos patogenos causantes de enfermedades de poscosecha en este cultivar en las condiciones ambientales de esta importante zona productora.Durante dos campanas consecutivas se utilizaron nisperos "Algerie" de dos parcelas distintas de la zona para determinar la etiologia y la incidencia de enfermedades producidas tanto por infecciones latentes como por infecciones de herida. Para ellos, frutos desinfectados superficialmente o heridos artificialmente se mantuvieron en camaras humedas a 20oC hasta 5 semanas. Se determinaron tambien las enfermedades en nisperos manejados comercialmente (seleccion visual y empaque en cajas de madera acolchadas en la central hortofruticola) y conservados a 5oC hasta 20 semanas. Los hongos aislados se incubaron en medio patata dextrosa agar (PDA) a 25oC para su purificacion y posterior indentificacion, tanto a nivel morfologico como molecular. En algunos casos se realizaron ensayos de laboratorio para verificar la patogenidad de los aislados y su desarrollo en condiciones de frigoconservacion de los frutos. Independientemene del tipo de infeccion y manejo, los principales hongos causantes de enfermedad fueron Alternaria Alternata (mancha negra) y Penicillium expansum (podredrumbre azul). Ademas, Botrytis cinerea (podredrumbe gris) se aislo frecuentemente tanto de frutos heridos como conservados en frio, mientras que Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (antracnosis) se observo con frecuencia en frutos desinfectados superficialmente. Otros patogenos minoritarios que se encontraron como causantes de infecciones latentes, sobre todo en la zona peduncular del fruto, fueron Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Diplodia serieata y Diaporthe phaseolorum. EnglishSpain is the second world producer and the first exporter of Japanese medlar (Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl.) For fresh consumption. More than 50% of the cultivated area is in the province of Alicante, specifically in the area of Callosa d'en Sarria, where more than 90% of the production corresponds to the cultivar "Algerie". This production is mainly destined for markets in the European Union (EU). The objectives of this work were to identify and quantify the pathogenic fungi that cause post-harvest diseases in this cultivar under the environmental conditions of this important producing area.During two consecutive campaigns, "Algerie" medlar from two different plots in the area were used to determine the etiology and incidence of diseases caused by both latent infections and wound infections. For them, superficially disinfected or artificially injured fruits were kept in humid chambers at 20oC for up to 5 weeks. Diseases were also determined in medlars managed commercially (visual selection and packing in padded wooden boxes in the fruit and vegetable center) and kept at 5oC for up to 20 weeks. The isolated fungi were incubated in potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at 25oC for their purification and subsequent identification, both at a morphological and molecular level. In some cases, laboratory tests were carried out to verify the pathogenicity of the isolates and their development under conditions of frigoconservation of the fruits. Regardless of the type of infection and management, the main disease-causing fungi were Alternaria Alternata (black spot) and Penicillium expansum (blue rot). In addition, Botrytis cinerea (gray podredrumbe) was frequently isolated from both injured and cold-preserved fruits, while Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (anthracnose) was frequently observed from superficially disinfected fruits. Other minor pathogens that were found to cause latent infections, especially in the peduncular area of the fruit, were Pestalotiopsis clavispora, Diplodia serieata and Diaporthe phaseolorum.