Biological control of kiwifruit gray mold disease using native yeasts isolated from Iran

Botrytis gray mold of kiwifruit is one of the most important fungal diseases that causes a significant damage to the kiwifruit during harvest and postharvest stages. The aim of this study was to find some effective isolates of native yeasts that have a good biocontrol effects on the pathogen, Botrytis cinerea. Fifity one plant samples were collected from different part of Iran during 2015–2016. Thirthy four yeast isolates were selected as representative based on the morphological characteristics of the colonies and the size of the cells. The experiment carried out to examine the yeasts ability in pathogen inhibition on Hayward cultivar of kiwifruit based on two assays, in well on fruit and on fruit slices in Petri dishes. Results based on partial ITS region sequence region showed and according to Duncan’s multiple range test at significance level 1% as well as index disease (ID), the yeasts including  Aureobasidium pullulans, Candida membranifaciens, Cryptococcus albidus, Metschnikowia koreensis, Ogataea cortices, Papilioterama flavescens, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and R. glutinis have the most potential to pathogen growth inhibition.