Characterization of the biochemical basis of host specificity of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum on citrus fruit

l. This research demonstrates that citrus fruit volatiles play an important role in host recognition by P. digitatum and P. italicum. 2. Volatiles derived from non-host fruits and vegetables (apple, pear, tomato, pepper, strawberry and avocado) had no effect on promotion of spore germination and growth of citrus pathogens. 3. Citrus volatiles have a specific stimulatory effect solely on P. digitatum and P. italicum. Non-citrus pathogens such as P. expansum and B. cinerea not affected orinhibited by the volatile materials. The specific stimulatory effect of fruit peelvolatiles on citrus pathogens and inhibitory effect on non-pathogens indicateimport ant role of volatile compounds in the host selectivity of citrus postharvestpathogens. 4. Comparative CG-MS quantification was per formed and identification of volatileconstituents of citrus commercial oils, peel extracts and the headspace of thewounded fruits was completed. Monoterpenehydrocarbons (limonene, a-pinene,sabinene, and myrcene) were the most abundant in all volatiles regardless of thesource.  5. Our results demonstrated stimulation of germination and germ tube growth in both P. digitatum and P. italicum by limonene, myrcene, a-pinene, and b-pinene). Limonenewas show n to be the most efficient in induction of germination and growth in bothpathogens. 6. P. digitatum spores placed on the surface of lemon fruit, adjacent to a wounded oil gland, were induced to germinate and grow, thus supporting all the in vitro results and demonstrating that the phenomenon of stimulation of germination and growth occurs on the fruit. 7. We established that P. digitatum is capable of biotransformation of limonene to a terpineol. a-terpinel was proved to be involved in induction of fungal sporulation process. 8. Chemotropism (directional growth) of P. digitatum towards the volatiles released from the oil glands on fruit surface was demonstrated. 9. Citrus germplasm screening work for fruit susceptibility/resistance for P. digitatum infection showed no definitive results regarding host range and susceptibility.Although the sour orange selections appear to show higher resistance to infection and decay development.  10. We demonstrated that P. expansum, non citrus pathogen, is capable of germinating in citrus fruit surface wounds, but it strongly induced host resistance mechanisms which restrict it growth and prevented decay development. The host (citrus fruit) reacted strongly by production of ROS. On the other hand, P. digitatum seems to actively suppress host natural resistance mechanisms possibly through inhibiting the production of ROS production.