Prevalence of Neofusicoccum parvum Associated with Fruit Rot of Mango in South Italy and Its Biological Control Under Postharvest Conditions

Botryosphaeriaceae species were recently found to be responsible for heavy mango crop losses worldwide. In 2020, mango fruit samples showing fruit decay symptoms were collected from Glenn, Kent, Irwin, Palmer, Brokaw 2, and Gomera 3 accessions in 4 orchards located in Sicily (Italy). A molecular analysis of the ITS and tub2 regions performed on 41 representative isolates allowed for the identification of mainly <i>Neofusicoccum parvum</i> and occasionally <i>Botryosphaeria dothidea</i> (1/41) as the causal agents of fruit decay. Pathogenicity proofs were satisfied for both fungal pathogens. Ripe and unripe Gomera 3 mango fruits were used to compare the virulence among the <i>N. parvum</i> isolates. Postharvest experiments performed on Gomera 3 fruits and by using different biocontrol agents (BCAs) showed that the performance of treatments in reducing fruit decay depends on <i>N. parvum</i> virulence. The data show that unregistered <i>Wickerhamomyces anomalus</i> WA-2 and <i>Pichia kluyveri</i> PK-3, followed by the trade bioformulate Serenade™ <i>(Bacillus amyloliquefaciens</i> QST713), were the most effective in managing mango fruit rot. This paper shows, for the first time, the potential of different BCAs, including <i>Trichoderma</i> spp., for the controlling of postharvest decay caused by <i>N. parvum</i> on mango fruits.