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Phytopathogens affecting post-harvest fruits: (1) Asexual Botrytis cinerea spores, also
known as grey mould. (Courtesy of Paul Bachi, University of Kentucky Research and Education Center*) ;
(2) Alternaria brassicicola on cabbage; (3) Spores of the Alternaria fungus. (Courtesy Bruce
Watt); (4) Filamentous growth of Rhizopus stolonifer, also known as bread mould, on a
peach. (Courtesy of University of Georgia Plant Pathology, University of Georgia*) ; (5) Spores of Rhizopus
stolonifer, also known as bread mould. (Courtesy of Charles Averre, North Carolina State University*) ;
(6)Monilinia fructigen, or brown rot on a nectarine; (7) Spores of Monilinia fructicola.
(Courtesy of Tom Creswell, Purdue University*) ; (8) Symptoms of Penicillium expansum, also known
as blue mould, expressed on an apple. (Courtesy of Gerald Holmes, California Polytechnic State
University at San Luis Obispo*) ; (9) Spores of the Penicillium spp. fungi. (Courtesy of Gerald Holmes,
California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo*)
* Bugwood.org
“Another advantage is that the lipopeptides’
mechanism of action is the non-specific
disruption of the cell membrane, suggesting
that they will be effective against a wide
spectrum of phytopathogens, including
resistant strains.”
Future research
To improve product purity, the next step will
be the application of a more selective process.
AgriKultuur |AgriCulture
Called macroporous resin adoption, it is a
process where the lipopeptides are absorbed
into the resin surface under optimal conditions
of pH, temperature and solvent composition.
For commercial application, the process has
to be adapted to produce the lipopeptide in
higher volumes of a standardised quality and
purity, delivering a product of low to medium
value that is cost-competitive.
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