Postharvest diseases seriously restrict developments in the passion fruit industry. In this study, we aimed to identify the postharvest pathogen affecting passion fruit, investigate its pathogenicity, and explore relevant control methods. The pathogen was isolated from rotting passion fruit and identified using morphological characteristics, ITS sequences, and phylogenetic tree analyses. Additionally, preliminary studies were conducted to assess the biological characteristics of the pathogen and evaluate the efficacy of various treatments for disease control. The fungus on the passion fruit called B4 was identified as Diaporthe passiflorae. Optimal conditions for mycelial growth were observed at 25-30 °C and pH 5-6, with starch as the carbon source and peptone as the nitrogen source. Infection by D. passiflorae accelerated fruit decay, reduced the h° value of the peel, and increased the peel cell membrane permeability when compared to the control. Notably, treatments with appropriate concentrations of ɛ-poly-l-lysine, salicylic acid, and melatonin showed inhibitory effects on the pathogen's growth in vitro and may thus be potential postharvest treatments for controlling brown rot caused by D. passiflorae in passion fruit. The results provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to control postharvest decay and extend the storage period of passion fruit.
Keywords: Diaporthe passiflorae; Passiflora caerulea; antifungal; biological characteristics; postharvest diseases.