Biocontrol Potential of a Mango-Derived Weissella paramesenteroides and Its Application in Managing Strawberry Postharvest Disease

TL;DR

A mango-derived Weissella paramesenteroides strain shows promise in controlling strawberry postharvest diseases through volatile organic compounds.

Contribution

The study identifies a novel biocontrol agent from mangoes that uses volatile organic compounds to inhibit fungal pathogens in strawberries.

Findings

Weissella paramesenteroides R2 strongly inhibits key postharvest pathogens like Botrytis cinerea.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from R2 significantly suppress fungal growth in sealed plate assays.

Application of R2 VOCs reduces strawberry disease incidence and severity during storage.

Abstract

Postharvest fungal diseases are a major cause of fruit spoilage and economic losses, particularly in perishable commodities like strawberries. In this study, a plant-derived Weissella paramesenteroides strain R2 was isolated from the mango fruit surface and evaluated for its antifungal potential. Dual-culture assays revealed the strong inhibitory activity of strain R2 against key postharvest pathogens, including Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and Fusarium oxysporum. Notably, cell-free fermentation broth exhibited no antifungal activity, whereas the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by R2 significantly suppressed fungal growth in sealed plate assays. GC-MS analysis identified 84 VOCs, with pyrazines as the dominant group. Three major compounds, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, and 2-furanmethanol, were validated for their antifungal activity. The application of R2 VOCs in strawberry preservation significantly reduced disease incidence and severity during storage. These findings highlight W. paramesenteroides R2 as a promising, food-safe biocontrol agent for postharvest disease management via VOC-mediated mechanisms.

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