Lentinula edodes enhances the biocontrol activity of Cryptococcus laurentii against Penicillium expansum contamination and patulin production in apple fruits.

Penicillium expansum is a post-harvest pathogen of apples which can produce the hazardous mycotoxin patulin. The yeast Cryptococcus laurentii (LS28) is a biocontrol agent able to colonize highly oxidative environments such as wounds in apples. In this study culture filtrates of the basidiomycete Lentinula edodes (LF23) were used to enhance the biocontrol activity of LS28. In vitro L. edodes culture filtrates improved the growth of C. laurentii and the activity of its catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, which play a key role in oxidant scavenging. In addition, LF23 also delayed P. expansum conidia germination. The biocontrol effect of LS28 used together with LF23 in wounded apples improved the inhibition of P. expansum growth and patulin production in comparison with LS28 alone, under both experimental and semi-commercial conditions. The biocontrol effect was confirmed by a semi-quantitative PCR analysis set up for monitoring the growth of P. expansum.