CHARACTERIZATION OF THE PENICILLIUM ISOLATES ASSOCIATED WITH BLUE MOLD ON KIWFRUITS IN SERBIA

Kiwifruits are edible berries from woody vines belonging to the genus Actinidia, native to southwest China, but sold and widely consumed worldwide, including in Serbia. The nutritional benefits of these fruits include richness with vitamin C and significant levels of dietary fiber, vitamin E, folate, and potassium. Kiwifruit compounds exhibit various beneficial health effects such as anti-diabetic, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, antioxidant activity, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and digestive-stimulating. This paper describes the polyphasic characterization of the Penicillium isolates obtained in 2016 and 2017 from the diseased kiwifruits in Serbia, originating from import. Morphological features of the recovered isolates were examined on three media: Czapek yeast autolysate agar (CYA), Malt extract agar (MEA), and Creatine sucrose agar (CREA). Growth and morphology were also inspected on CYA medium at two liminal incubation temperatures (5 and 37°C). Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and beta-tubulin served as molecular identification markers. A pathogenicity assay was conducted to check the fulfilment of Koch’s postulates. The obtained isolates were identified as Penicillium expansum, and all isolates were confirmed as postharvest pathogens of kiwifruits collected in Serbia. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first record of P. expansum as a postharvest disease agent on this host in Serbia. The recorded fungal species in this study is regarded as one of the most destructive fruit pathogens in storages. It is a disease-causing agent with an extensive host range which includes many fruit crops, whether they are cultivated here or imported, as kiwifruits.