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Improved Control of Postharvest Decay of Pears by the Combination of Candida sake (CPA-1) and Ammonium Molybdate

The potential enhancement of Candida sake (CPA-1) by ammonium molybdate to control blue and gray mold caused by Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea, respectively, on Blanquilla pears was investigated. In laboratory trials, improved control of blue and gray molds was obtained with the application of ammonium molybdate (1, 5, 10, and 15 mM) alone or in combination with C. sake at 2 × 10⁶ or 2 × 10⁷ CFU ml^-1 on Blanquilla pears stored at 20°C. In semicommercial trials at 1°C for 5 months, the efficacy of C. sake at 2 × 10⁶ CFU ml^-1 on reducing P. expansum and B. cinerea decay was enhanced more than 88% with the addition of ammonium molybdate 5 mM in the 1999-2000 season. In two seasons, the performance C. sake at 2 × 10⁶ CFU ml^-1 plus ammonium molybdate was similar to or greater than that of C. sake at 2 × 10⁷ CFU ml^-1. Similar control of blue mold was obtained on pears stored under low oxygen conditions. The preharvest application of ammonium molybdate did not reduce postharvest blue mold decay. The population of C. sake on pear wounds significantly decreased in the presence of ammonium molybdate 1 and 5 mM at 20 and 1°C.